Posted on July 13, 2024

In partnership with the United Church of Canada’s Climate Motivator Program, our motivator Primrose Watson-Leung (she/her) is exploring the potential of the creation of a community run pollinator garden on church grounds.

Objective: 

• Establish a community run, native plant pollinator garden on a small portion of church property.
• Create a usable space, friendly to both community and to wildlife.
• Create more sustainable, resilient and natural landscaping practices.
• Connect youth and community to nature.
• Create native habitat corridors to allow pollinator movement, promoting genetic sustenance and species diversity in our community.

What is a pollinator garden?

• A pollinator garden is specially designed to provide for the needs of local pollinating species.
• It can function as both a community space, and as a wildlife safehaven in urban spaces.
• It may look unkempt, but because it is natural, implementation is far friendlier to local wildlife and plants are more self sufficient, creating more efficient, cost effective maintenance for the church.
• Incorporation of pollinator habitat can beautify your space, increase native biodiversity, and assert a natural control of pest insects, as well as providing community engagement and learning opportunities for all the congregation.

Where:

• An optimal area for the garden will be determined in consultation with the garden club and NUC community.

How:

• Potential grants are aligned to cover the cost (Stephen Worby Community Service Grant can be for up to $5000).
• Research into potential plants, and where to acquire them through the help of Let’s Nurture Nature Halton.
• Contacts have been made with the David Suzuki foundation, as well as with the town of Halton Hills Climate Change Outreach Coordinator.

Plan:

• Work in phases
• Draw up plans with the help of Norval United’s garden club
• Start with a small area, and gradually expand as time and opportunity to do so fluctuates.
• Employ the volunteer help of the congregation in a community day, and of Let’s Nurture Nature Halton

Resources:

• An extensive list of resources by the David Suzuki foundation for those inquiring into gardening with pollinators https://davidsuzuki.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Habitat-Gardening-Resources-Feb-2024-v2.pdf 
• A list of pollinator plants and design templates from the City of Guelph https://guelph.ca/living/house-and-home/lawn-and-garden/sample-garden-designs/creating-a-pollinator-garden/ 

• For past case studies, look at examples from Trinity United, and Trinity Presprytarian Church: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/faithcommongood/pages/268/attachments/original/1520959665/FCC_WEB_Case_Studies_Booklet_WEB_171214.pdf?1520959665

If you have any further questions, or would like to offer your support, please reach out to primsswl@gmail.com with any inquiries.

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