Support for Bees, Butterflies and Birds
Bees, butterflies and birds play a crucial role in our ecosystem as pollinators, aiding in the reproduction of many plants and crops that we rely on for food. These animals rely on our gardens and green spaces for food and shelter. In return, these beneficial animals pollinate our plants, crops and fruit trees, giving us beautiful flowers, fruits, nuts, and honey.
However, these essential creatures are facing a concerning decline in population. Pollinators are disappearing due to growing cities, pesticide use, and the spread of diseases.
City Strategies to Support Pollinators
Bees, butterflies and birds play a crucial role in our ecosystem as pollinators, aiding in the reproduction of many plants and crops that we rely on for food. These animals rely on our gardens and green spaces for food and shelter. In return, these beneficial animals pollinate our plants, crops and fruit trees, giving us beautiful flowers, fruits, nuts, and honey.
However, these essential creatures are facing a concerning decline in population. Pollinators are disappearing due to growing cities, pesticide use, and the spread of diseases.
City Strategies to Support Pollinators
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Benefitting the Bees
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We recently provided information which showcased the planting of the Pym Street garden(External link) meant to bring awareness about bees and their habitat. Bees play a crucial role in our ecosystem as pollinators, aiding in the reproduction of many plants and crops that we rely on for food. Bees and butterflies in the City rely on our gardens and green spaces for food and shelter. In return, these beneficial insects pollinate our plants, crops and fruit trees, giving us beautiful flowers, fruits, nuts, and honey.
Another step in protecting bees is the creation of naturalized pollinator meadows in some of our parks and open spaces. The areas are being mowed and maintained by staff but in a slightly different manner than previous years. Mowing has been reduced in a few select areas for these important reasons:
- Improved habitat for beneficial species of plants and animals, including birds, bees and butterflies.
- Cooler temperatures in the air benefiting visitors.
- More moisture in our soils for longer, helping trees during periods of drought.
- Less carbon emissions during maintenance.
- More diverse and exciting park landscapes for people to enjoy.
Many municipalities are adopting these best practices following extensive research and studies and found the benefits to be significant. Concerns linking fire, insects, and garbage accumulation to unmowed grass have not been substantiated by research or information gathered from other municipalities. As the ecological benefits and rainfall declines, the long grass will turn brown, and the City will mow these areas. An example of this reduced mowing is at Nicolls Park where areas used by the public are being mowed and managed, leaving some areas to support environmental benefits. The tall grass also adds texture and colour to the park. Although the aesthetic may not be to everyone’s liking, benefits of selective mowing mean our green spaces can function at a higher level.
For more information:
Deb Tardiff; Manager of Communications
communications@parksville.ca; 250 954-3073 -
You Know It’s Summer When…
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the Pym Street garden is planted!
The much-loved annual Pym Street garden display, different every year, is designed and created by our talented parks team. Previous year’s displays featured recognition of the RCMP 150th anniversary in 2023, Parksville’s 75th birthday in 2020, hearts in 2021 as we transitioned through the pandemic, and in 2017, Canada’s 150th.
This year’s display is meant to bring awareness about bees and their habitat. Bees play a crucial role in our ecosystem as pollinators, aiding in the reproduction of many plants and crops that we rely on for food. However, these essential creatures are facing a concerning decline in population. To raise awareness about this issue and to provide a haven for our beloved bees, the Pym Street display garden is dedicated to showcasing their importance and the beauty of their habitat. The garden will serve as a sanctuary for bees and other pollinators, offering them a safe space to thrive.
In other areas of the City, we are cultivating more native plants which will support bees as well. Native plant flowers provide bees with a diverse and abundant source of nectar and pollen, essential for their survival and well-being. These untamed beauties not only offer sustenance but also create a rich and biodiverse ecosystem that benefits both bees and other wildlife.
Native plants are nature's resilience champions against drought! Unlike their non-native counterparts, they've evolved over centuries to thrive in our local climates, making them more resilient to dry spells. The parks team will mix native plants along with drought tolerant non-native plants in many City flower beds to better adapt to our dry summers.
For more information:
Deb Tardiff; Manager pf Communications
communications@parksville.ca;(External link) 250 954-3073
Pollinator Resources
Learn more about starting a pollinator garden and the plants suited to our region:
David Suzuki Butterflyway Project(External link)(External link)
Bee City Canada(External link)(External link)
Canadian Wildlife Native Plant Encyclopedia(External link)(External link)
Seeds of Diversity Pollination Canada Program(External link)(External link)
Honey Bee Research Centre (University of Guelph)(External link)(External link)
Xerces Society(External link)
Native plants loved by pollinators
Native plants loved by pollinators
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