Pollinator Gardens at Broad Run and Shadyside Park

New Pollinator Gardens at Broad Run and Shadyside Parks

If you’ve been enjoying the recreational opportunities provided by Broad Run or Shadyside Parks this past summer, you may have noticed a bit of a disturbance in the grassy areas located along the trail in both parks.  Don’t worry, these areas are our new pollinator gardens. This past spring, the townships Land Preservation and Sustainability Committee in cooperation with Parks and Recreation located a ¼ acre plot in each park that was prepared and seeded with plants and flowers that encourage pollinators.

Pollinators are a vital part of our ecosystem and are responsible for one-in-three bites of food we eat every day. A pollinator plays an important role in the life of flowers and in the production of fruits and vegetables. Insects, birds and mammals that carry pollen from one plant to another are called pollinators. These include native bees, ants, wasps, butterflies, moths, beetles, bats, honeybees, flies and hummingbirds. Today, pollinators face many dangers, including loss of habitat, disease, pollution, and destruction by pesticides.

The pollinator gardens will provide educational opportunities to learn more about this vital ecosystem process, and in the years ahead will look great too!