Volunteers are at the heart of Discovery Park’s ongoing restoration. Through the Green Seattle Partnership, Forest Stewards help restore native forests, remove invasive plants, and improve habitat for wildlife, ensuring Discovery Park remains healthy and resilient for generations to come.
Forest Stewards also play an important role in building community by organizing volunteer events, welcoming new volunteers, and sharing their knowledge of the park’s unique ecosystems. Their dedication helps preserve the forests, meadows, and shoreline that make Discovery Park one of Seattle’s most treasured natural spaces.
One of those dedicated volunteers is Tim Garland, whose love of birds and the outdoors inspired him to become a Forest Steward.
What Lead You to Become a Forest Steward?
I love birds, and for years have spent countless hours in Discovery Park watching, photographing, and generally enjoying the huge variety of bird species found in Discovery Park.
Discovery Park has also been an important place for my kids – they both attended pre-school at Nature Kids, and learned about the many plants, insects, birds and mammals that live in the park from their [excellent] teachers.
Knowing this, one of my friends asked if I wanted to spend some time volunteering in the park, so I tried it out and really enjoyed it. When he moved away from the area, I took over his Forest Steward duties.
Tim’s story is a reminder that many of Discovery Park’s volunteers begin simply by spending time in the park and developing a connection to the wildlife and natural landscapes they want to help protect.
Learn More About Forest Stewardship
Want to read more about Tim’s experience as a Forest Steward? Check out his full spotlight on the Green Seattle Partnership website.
If Tim’s story inspires you, we’d love to have you join us. Learn more about upcoming restoration events and how you can get involved on our Volunteer page.
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