The Butterflyway Project is a citizen-led movement growing highways of habitat for bees and butterflies across Canada, one butterfly-friendly planting at a time. This year the Champlain Library was honoured to be selected as a Butterflyway Ranger by the David Suzuki Foundation to promote the growth of native wildflowers and plants in the community to benefit pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
The Library has been very fortunate to receive seed and bulb donations from the Vankleek Hill and District Horticultural Society and Foodland Vankleek Hill for this project. The ‘Starter Packs’ will be available as of May 13 for the registered volunteers to pick up to start their pollinator plots. Each kit will include a Butterflyway sign, flower seeds and bulbs, and an information pamphlet.
Ranger Alicia Heinzle successfully recruited 31 volunteers from Champlain Township and East Hawkesbury to plant native wildflowers in their pollinator plots. This is a fantastic response, considering it is the Library’s first year in participating. Library staff are looking forward to seeing how the gardens will be transformed into butterfly sanctuaries.
The Butterflyway Project shows that a small group of residents and a dedicated Ranger will help make their community greener and healthier while creating opportunities and connecting people. Stay tuned to how the project develops within the community.
