Biodiversity Protection

Bee a Pollinator Protector

The Bee a Pollinator Protector includes tips to help residents promote habitats for pollinators throughout the growing season.

Plant native flowers

Why are native plants important?

Native plants have always been here. They occur naturally in a given region, growing and evolving with the landscape as it changes over time. That is why native plants are considered the foundation of our ecosystems and are responsible for countless ecological functions that keep us and the environment happy and healthy.

Native plants:

• Help to protect biodiversity:

Ontario is home to over 30,000 different types of plants and animals but they’re running out of places to live. Because of ongoing habitat loss, especially in Southern Ontario, about 270 of these species are now considered “at risk.” By planting native plants in your garden, you can give these species the best conditions to thrive in your area!

• Support our food system

One-third of the food we eat relies on pollinators! These are the bees, butterflies, and other insects that our crops need to grow and without them, we wouldn’t have most of our favourite foods. Native plants attract pollinators and provide them with food and shelter.

• Keep the Town beautiful

Native plants can add just as much colour to your garden as other flowers can! They’re also accustomed to the soil, moisture, and weather of your area and therefore, require less maintenance overall. No need for extra water, fertilizer, or pesticides!

Examples of native plants are:

• Black-eyed Susan (rudbeckia hirta)
• Common Milkweed (asclepias syriaca)
• Butterfly Milkweed (asclepias tuberosa)
• Wild Bergamot (monarda fistulosa)
• Dense Blazing Star (liatris spicata)

Care tips for these native flowers

No Mow May

No Mow May is an option to help support pollinators during spring as they look for their first food sources of the season (normally dandelions or other weeds/flowers), places to hide, and protection from night-time frost. Having longer grass, or leaves, around your yard gives them a safe place to shelter.

The goal of this initiative is to prevent the disturbance of overwintering insects and amphibians that may be burrowed or hiding in leaves and lawns and to increase food sources for pollinators. Unseasonably warm temperatures may lure them out of hiding and they need a place to retreat to.

You can help pollinators by:

• Avoid or reduce mowing lawns until June,
• Mow at the highest setting,
• Leave the cut grass on the soil to provide a layer of protection and natural fertilizer as the grass degrades,
• Leave a portion of the lawn unmown, it can be a section of your front yard, a corner of your backyard, a strip, etc.,
• Leave a fine layer of leaves on the soil to serve as shelter for insects and amphibians,
• Plant native flowers,

Our goal is to promote conversations about biodiversity protection and how small actions can make a difference.

The Town and the EAC would like to continue learning and engaging with the community to consider initiatives to promote and enhance habitats for pollinators and healthy ecosystems for all residents. We encourage residents to look at Pollinator and Native Plant Gardening Resources to see a full list of ways to help feed the bees!

The Canadian Wildlife Federation has a similar initiative underway. You can also learn more about the David Suzuki Foundation Butterfly Way initiative, here.

How can you participate?

To register for the challenge, please complete the online form. Those who donate minimum of $20 will be entered into a draw and receive a lawn sign to show your neighbours to bee a pollinator protector. All donations will go to the David Suzuki Foundation Butterfly Way.

Once registered, you can pick up your sign in Customer Service Desk at the Civic Centre during regular business hours. Please return signs to Customer Service at the Civic Centre by the end of June.

Residents with mobility issues can request to have signs delivered to their home by emailing the Environment team.

Prize

Participants who donate a minimum of $20 using the online form will be automatically entered into a draw for a gift basket from Queensville Farm Supply and Country Store, valued at $150. You are asked to submit a photo of the action taken and by the end of the season the Committee will draw a winner.

Other Ways to Participate/What you can do after May?

Whether you can participate in No Mow May or not, you can help pollinators throughout the spring and summer by:

1. Planting a pollinator garden. Choose a variety of native flowering plants, such as Asters, Bee Balm, Milkweed and Coneflowers, with varying bloom times that last from spring until fall in order to provide food sources all season long.
2. Choose a section of your lawn that can remain uncut all summer long.
3. Decrease mowing frequency throughout the mowing season. Let your lawn grow a little longer than normal, ideally mowing only once or twice per month.
4. Mow at the highest setting. This allows low lying flowers to continue to grow and decreases re-flower time for those that are mown.

The Canadian Wildlife Federation has a similar initiative underway. You can also learn more about the David Suzuki Foundation Butterfly Way initiative, here.

Invasive Species

What Are Invasive Species?

• Invasive species are non-native plants, animals, insects, and pathogens that cause harm and are considered one of Canada’s greatest threats to the survival of our wild animal and plant life. Many invasive species are introduced unintentionally and can establish and spread rapidly because there are no natural predators to keep their populations under control. As a result, invasive species kill, crowd out, and devastate native species and their ecosystems.

Why Are Invasive Species an Important Issue?

• Invasive species introductions are commonly regarded by conservation organizations and scientists as the second greatest threat to global biodiversity, next to habitat loss. Invasive plants and animals not only threaten wildlife, woodlands, and waterways, they also cost Canada billions of dollars in losses to forestry, agriculture, fisheries, and other industries affected by their impact. If an invasive species is undetected and unregulated, it can become established in the environment and spread causing immeasurable impacts on our economy, ecology, and social values.
• Eradication: Removing a species population in its entirety. If populations are localized, eradication is possible.
• Containment: Reducing further spread of an introduced species. As populations increase, eradication becomes increasingly unlikely and priorities shift to preventing further spread.
• Long-term control: This is the costliest stage of invasive species management. Eradication is unlikely to impossible and we instead focus on limiting populations and protecting remaining resources.

How are invasive species managed?

• Prevention: The most cost-effective solution for managing invasive species. Public awareness and education are essential for this stage.
• Eradication: Removing a species population in its entirety. If populations are localized, eradication is possible.
• Containment: Reducing further spread of an introduced species. As populations increase, eradication becomes increasingly unlikely and priorities shift to preventing further spread.
• Long-term control: This is the costliest stage of invasive species management. Eradication is unlikely to impossible and we instead focus on limiting populations and protecting remaining resources.