Pollinators need our help! Habitat loss and pesticide use have caused steep population declines in many ecologically and economically important species of pollinators, such as butterflies and bees. Despite the vital roles that they play in ecosystem function and agriculture, the importance and plight of these insects often goes largely unnoticed by the general public. Join the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge and celebrate pollinators with us on Saturday, July 27th by helping to plant Great Hollow’s new educational pollinator garden! Comprised entirely of native pollinator-friendly plants, the garden will be a new tool for us to use in our environmental education programs and provide much-needed habitat for pollinators at the preserve. While we all plant the garden, we’ll talk about the “ecosystem services” provided by pollinators, the species of plants we are planting and why they were selected, and how you can help pollinators on your own property. Children will get to play a game that will show them the pollination process in action and then make a solitary bee hotel to take home with them.

This event is supported by a generous grant from the Environmental Professionals’ Organization of Connecticut.