Pollinator Habitat
Pollinators are insects, birds or mammals that spread pollen from one plant to another as they navigate flowers for food. Pollinators are an integral part of any ecosystem and are critical for human food production. One out of every three bites of food we eat are thanks to pollinators (www.pollinator.org). Without them we wouldn’t have many of our fruits and vegetables, or honey!
Common pollinators in the Severn Sound watershed include Monarch Butterflies, Bumble Bees, Miner Bees, and Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, to name a few. Other pollinators include bats, moths, flies and even ants!
SSEA supports member municipalities in their pollinator initiatives by assisting with plant community surveys, invasive species removal, and site restoration suggestions and implementation.
SSEA also supports SSEA members who have become a “Bee City” which they identify as part of their Bee City Canada membership. Bee City Canada offers programs to recognize communities and organizations that are taking steps or are committed to future initiative to help pollinations. In the Severn Sound Watershed, the Town of Penetanguishene, Town of Midland and Townships of Severn, Georgian Bay, and Tiny are Bee Cities.
Gardening For Pollinators in the Severn Sound Area
If you wish to be contacted about future volunteer opportunities contact us at sseainfo@severnsound.ca.
BEE Parks (Biodiversity Enhancement & Education Parks) - 2024
The objective of BEE Parks is to support SSEA municipal partners through implementing habitat restoration or naturalization projects on municipally-owned land (Parks, boulevards, green spaces). SSEA is providing technical support and site-specific guidance to municipalities, and conducting communications, education and outreach, with an aim to empower broader community action in naturalization and stewardship. This project also supports municipal efforts such as Bee City and no-mow/reduced-mow programs.
Benefits of Naturalization:
- Naturalized areas and native plants provide valuable habitat and food for birds, pollinators and other wildlife
- Native plants are adapted to their environment and do not depend on chemical application or frequent watering to survive
- Naturalized landscapes mean less time spent maintaining and mowing lawns, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions
- Trees and other native plants produce oxygen and capture carbon
- Plants anchor the soil and capture rainwater, reducing erosion and surface water runoff
- Some native plants provide people with food sources, such as maple syrup, fruit and berries; many wild plants are important components of Indigenous medicine and culture
If you wish to be contacted about future volunteer opportunities contact us at sseainfo@severnsound.ca.
In Partnership and Supported By:
Project SSEED (Severn Sound Engagement and EDucation) - 2024
Project SSEED aims to connect with students in local schools to enhance ecological literacy and foster a deeper understanding of the importance of the environment to wildlife, pollinators, and human communities. SSEA will also work with schools to enhance gardens or create natural habitat on school property, including planting native species and removal of invasive species.
If you are a teacher or school administrator and interested in participating, contact sseainfo@severnsound.ca.
An invitation to participate in Project SSEED has been extended to all school boards in our watershed. We also consider other engagement opportunities such as with local home-school groups and adult learning classes, and youth groups, etc.
If you wish to be contacted about future volunteer opportunities contact us at sseainfo@severnsound.ca.
In Partnership and Supported By:
Improving Habitat in the Severn Sound Watershed Project 2022-2023
This project engaged the community in naturalization and habitat restoration projects to improve water quality, enhance habitat and contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation. SSEA was the lead organization for the project and supported the Towns of Midland and Penetanguishene in naturalization and enhancement of habitat on municipal land on 30,155 m2 of habitat across five sites, with the funding support provided by the Government of Ontario through the Provincial Great Lakes Local Action Fund (GLLAF). More details available at: Improving Habitat in the Severn Sound Watershed Project.
No-Mow Reduced-Mow
No-mow and reduced-mow zones encourage habitat for pollinators by allowing plants to flower before they are cut, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions from mowers. The SSEA helps support partner municipalities in this initiative by providing technical expertise, and outreach and education to the community.
Project 4 Pollinators 2022-23
Through this project, SSEA developed pollinator kits that were given out at various community events, and available to Bee City member municipalities. These kits included pollinator garden seed packets, No-Mow lawn flags, native plant guides, and pollinator handbooks. The Projects for Pollinators initiative was made possible with support from TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.
Depave Paradise Program 2021-22
In 2021/22, the SSEA was a delivery partner for the Depave Paradise Program (by Green Communities Canada), which focuses on transforming paved areas of at least 100 m2 to greenspace, which can include pollinator friendly habitats. Hard surfaces such as pavement and cement have negative impacts on water quality by increasing stormwater runoff into waterways, which can carry sediment and pollutants with it. Depaving creates permeable surfaces to promote the infiltration of stormwater. The SSEA planted a pollinator garden in Honey Harbour Park (Township of Georgian Bay) with over 20 native pollinator-attracting wildflowers, grasses, trees and shrubs, to provide habitat as well as a buffer around the existing pond to further filter stormwater.
Species planted at Honey Harbour Park
- Basswood (Tilia Americana)
- Black Cherry (Prunus serotine)
- Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)
- Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)
- Chokecherries (Prunus virginiana)
- Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
- Highbursh Cranberry (Viburnum opulus var. americanum formerly Viburnum trilobum)
- New Jersery Tea (Ceanothus americanus)
- Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
- Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
- Blue False Indigo (Baptisia australis)
- Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor)
- Blue Vervain (Verbena hastate)
- Bottle Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii)
- Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- Canada Anemone (Anemonastrum canadense)
- Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Dense Blazingstar (Liatris spicata)
- Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis)
- Field Pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta)
- Flat-topped Aster (Doellingeria umbellate)
- Gray-headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)
- Harebell (Campanula rotundifolia)
- Lance-leaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolate)
- New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
- Oswego Tea (Monarda didyma)
- Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
- Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve)
- Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
- Upland White Goldenrod (Solidago ptarmicoides)
- Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
- Sideoats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)
Who supported
The Depave Paradise project has received generous support from Green Communities Canada, the Township of Georgian Bay and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.
