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BYOUR CITY 700 POLLINATOR GARDENS AND COUNTING IN WATERLOO REGION y RARE CHARITABLE RESERVE AIMS T0 EXPAND PROJECT ACROSS CANADA As more sereopment pushes out, creating for pollinators is epi to a sustainable future. ‘Nati just because of the ek we're paving over every- thing, but the fact that we have traditionally fa- voured well-kept lawns with no weeds or native plants, and that creates sig- nificant deserts for species like bees and butterflies that we need to pollinate gu food crops," said James mmunications di- rector “with the rare chari- table research reserve in Cambridge. The 1,000 Gardens Pro- ject was established i in 2021 ‘ims to develop a “pol tor way-stations map" along the Toronto-Water- loo Region corridor. Last year, it surpassed the 700- ae an encouragement device to get people to turn their _ back: b mnt yards and balconies into pollinator-friendly spaces,” Bow said. "It's all self-registers. We don't police things too Pollinator gardens don't have to be large to make a huge difference for pollinators. hard around here," he add- ed, noting that participa- tion has come from across Waterloo Region, Guelph and parts of the GTA. ‘As we approach the 1,000-mark, we're reaching out to other pollinator groups and advocates out there and hoping to take is thing national so that we can talk about a Trans- Canada Pollinator High- way." The movement that's seeing more people plant perennial plants ;oldenrod, aster and lavender and coneflow- ers can yield significant benefits for landowners as as the environment, Bow said. To kick off Pollinator Week (June 19-25), rare is hosting a garden walk and talk with ecologist Dr. Tom Woodcock on June 19 at 11 am. at the Springbank Bl Farm, 681 Blair Rd. For those unable <0 attend, there are re are urces on rare's website ‘where the online map can be access- ‘It takes work and know- how, not just letting the grass grow, said Bow. eu erRoofing n Hame Exterior Expert! * Roof Inspections ¢ Installation ¢ Repairs ¢ Waterproofing ¢ Flat Roofing « Replacement ¢ Energy Saving * Skylights & more “But pollinator gardens typically require less maintenance than being out there with a lawn mow- er every week and can re- duce the use of water, fertil- izers and pesticides," he noted. "You need to plant it right, pick the right plants and put them in the it locations. So, there's some skill. But once you do that, it's a lot less maintenan and you have a little more time to enjoy the fruits of your labour." Aside from plantings, people can help by imple- Metroland file photo menting things, such as feeders, water sources and bee boxes. The city's Pollinator Working Group was at the Eby Farm Fest this past weekend with an education booth about butterflies and moths and the role they pa at nighttime. Accord- city's steward- ae co- sordinvion Peggy Stevens, | Bee City Canada at resources, a eaing a booklet for kids; however the group's ey message is for resi- dents to reduce their lawn and plant a_ pollinator we On... He @ HOME & GARDEN TELEVISION t wait, call us today 226-989-5897 info@reuterroofing.ca a patch. : The city is leading sev- eral community programs 2 and initiatives, including 3 3 gare , living fence 5 around co! unity vegeta- 5! ble gardens an and the remov- § al of invasive plant species. 2 Recent projects have in- cluded planting hundreds 2 3 of native wildflowers, trees § and shrubs in Bechtel Park and Waterloo Park. 8 Iptown Waterloo is one of many areas across North America that will be lighting up in yellow and orange this week to mark Pollinator Week. Conestoga Mall will be bringing guests to a digital bee exhibit showcasing the mall's two rooftop hives. The activation in the Win- cation sessions this Fri- day, from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, June 24, from 1 to 4p.m., with Dave Stotes- bury of BackedbyBees, a commercial beekeeping operation out of Burling- ton. Stotesbury says the mall's two rooftop hives, each with about 60,000 to 804 000 honey bees, provide rvice to a five-kilometre radius around Waterloo. "We' putting in a whole physical display in the mall to help educate the public on who these polli- nators are, why they mat- tr and what can you actu- ally do in your backyard, " Stotesbury said. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Pollinator Week is June 19-25 and the Chron- icle wanted to learn mo about the role pollinators play in a sustainable fu- ture. CHRONICLE READERS’ CHOICE 2022 o'9]9|UOIYDOOLIE}2M