Photo caption: Residents, businesses and organizations are encouraged to plant Nectar Trail gardens that help pollinators rest and refuel while they travel across the city.
Did you know that pollinators are responsible for one of every three bites of food we eat? It is Pollinator Week from June 16 to 22 and to celebrate, the City of Richmond is relaunching the Nectar Trail initiative to support local pollinators and strengthen urban biodiversity.
Supported by Border Free Bees and West Coast Seeds, the Nectar Trail encourages residents, businesses and organizations to plant, maintain and register a minimum one square metre of pollinator-friendly garden space on their properties. These gardens should be pesticide-free and feature drought-tolerant plants, like nootka rose, sweet alyssum and goldenrod, that bloom from spring to fall.
These private gardens will serve as important “stepping stones” to connect larger habitat hubs such as Bridgeport Pasture, Terra Nova Meadow, Garden City Lands, the Railway Corridor, Richmond Nature Park, and surrounding agricultural areas. These connections provide resting and foraging opportunities for pollinators as they move across the city.
Richmond, proudly recognized as a Certified Bee City in 2022, is committed to protecting pollinators. They are essential to the ecosystem, agricultural economy and food supply. Bees, butterflies, beetles, moths, flies, birds and bats all play vital roles in ecosystems, agriculture and food security by transferring pollen that helps plants grow seeds, fruits and crops.
Buzz by the Richmond Nature Park during the week of June 16 to sign up for the Nectar Trail and receive a free seed packet. The Nature Park’s beekeeper will host an information table on Saturday, June 21 from 11:00am to 3:00pm to share the importance of bees in our ecosystem and serve mini honey cookies as a sweet treat for visitors.
An interactive map showcasing all registered Nectar Trail gardens, including the City’s pollinator sites, as well as registration details and additional information, is available at LetsTalkRichmond.ca/NectarTrail.