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What is Pollination Guelph?
Pollination Guelph is a group of individuals dedicated to the conservation and development of pollinator habitat for current and future generations. We promote awareness and understanding of the role of pollinators in achieving local and global environmental sustainability goals and showcase world class pollinator projects that are a model for citizens and communities throughout Canada and internationally. We are a charitable, federally incorporated non-profit organization.
Where are our Planting Areas?
Our most well-known project is a proposed 45ha (112 acre) Pollination Park at the decommissioned Eastview Landfill Site. The Pollination Park will be one of the first and largest pollinator initiatives to occur in Ontario, Canada, and internationally. It will also be an opportunity to highlight the City of Guelph's commitment to being a leader in environmental issues. We started working on phase 1 in the fall of 2012, with planting to begin in spring 2013, but it is a long-term multi-stage project.
We have been doing a lot of work (and continue to do so!) in other areas where we can get our many volunteers out and busy planting. These areas are examples of what small-scale pollinator-friendly gardening or pollinator-friendly farming can look like (e.g. like your front yard or a hedgerow on your farm). Plantings have been carried out at:
Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming - North east corner of the University of Guelph campus, on the south side of College Ave, between Gordon St and Victoria Rd (just off Dundas Lane); pollinator-friendly hedgerow, wet/low land plantings, arbor, demonstration plantings (demonstration plantings will be added to/formalized in 2013)
Riverside Park - off Riverside Drive, near Speedvale and Woolwich; 3 flower beds along the trail near the river, just past the windmill
Trans Canada Trail - off Speedvale, near Woolwich; 2 large beds along trail, plus some plantings along edge of ravine, more plantings planned in 2013
Hospice Wellington - corner Scottsdale Drive and Kortright Rd; pollinator-friendly landscaping (two phases completed in 2012, another phase in 2013)
We are in discussions for plantings to happen at another large municipal and large corporate property in 2013, as well as additional plantings and maintenance of the above sites, and potentially a few other small gardens.
How is Pollination Guelph Organized?
Pollination Guelph is currently run by a volunteer board of directors representing educational, research, governmental, environmental and business interests. We are not a member-based organization, but do rely heavily on private donors and on volunteers, particularly for on-site work at the park and other hands-on activities. There are no paid staff members; everything is done by volunteers!
Want to Know More?
Check out the links in the box on the right to see information on our upcoming events & meetings, the articles and media coverage we've been featured in, our vision, mission, goals and objectives, our board members and their biographies, our newsletters and reports, a list of resources available on the web, and more. The best way to keep informed about our work, and to learn about upcoming volunteer opportunities, is to join our e-mailing list. To contact us, or to join the mailing list, please send an e-mail to pollinationguelph@gmail.com.
Pollinators are the animals that pollinate over 90% of all flowering plants, and primarily include bees, flies, butterflies, moths, and other insects, although birds, bats, and other animals can also be pollinators. Together they are an indispensable natural resource, and their daily work is essential for over a billion dollars of apples, pears, cucumbers, melons, berries, and many other kinds of Canadian farm produce. One out of every three bites of food you eat is a direct result of pollination, so thank a pollinator whenever you eat!