Hundreds of students in the Red Clay Consolidated School District in Delaware helped plant pollinator gardens at their school campuses this spring. The project aims to restore degraded watershed ecosystems through educational experiences that engage communities in environmental stewardship.
Stroud Water Research Center is helping the school district execute the project, which creates more wildlife habitat on seven school campuses. The Stroud Center’s education staff is advising the grant and school teams on habitat design, native plant selection, site prep, planting, and school lesson ideas. The guidance has helped school teachers and students study their campuses and plant meadows, pollinator gardens, and trees. Included among the new wildlife habitats are paths that meet ADA regulations, allowing students of all abilities to enjoy, learn about, and care for the new gardens.
Planting events this spring engaged students at five of the school campuses. The other two campuses will have planting days this fall.
Funding for the project came from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which announced more than $14.9 million in funding through the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund, in partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
To support wildlife at your school campus, home, business, or place of worship, start small and follow the tips below.
Support Pollinators on Your Schoolyards!
Would you like to attract more native birds, bees, and butterflies to your schoolyards? Consider these simple practices:
- Leave the leaves under trees instead of removing, raking, or shredding. Many insect larvae depend on these leaves for overwintering (e.g., fireflies and moths), and leaf litter is beneficial to tree health.
- Reduce pesticide use.
- Convert small chunks of lawn to a living landscape that supports wildlife.
Check out these resources:
- The Xerces Society Pollinator Conservation Resource Center provides plant suggestions, bee and butterfly guides, and more.
- The National Wildlife Federation allows schools to get certified through the Wildlife Schoolyard Habitats program and offers a free Wildlife Schoolyard Habitats Guide.
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides a Schoolyard Habitat Guide.
