The Shelagh Law Parkette in Glen Williams has a new look, thanks to some local busy bees.
The Glen Williams Community Association (GWCA) and the local Keller Williams Real Estate branch collaborated on Thursday to build a pollinator habitat in the hamlet's parkette.
“We have a shortage of pollinators,” GWCA head Joan Griffin said.
According to Griffin, the plan is to encourage “the planting of native plants and specifically those that attract bees, butterflies and birds.”
The GWCA will apply to the David Suzuki Foundation’s Butterflyway Project to certify the area as a pollinator habitat.
However, no bulbs were planted today - this will likely occur in September.
“We missed the slot to do the spring planting because we still need to get as many donated as possible,” Griffin explained.
While the GWCA provided the vision for their gardening goals, Keller Williams mustered the labour. May 11 is Red Day - a time when all Keller Williams offices around the world close so they can give back to the community. Dozens of staff from the real estate office were at Cedarvale Park off-leash dog area and Trafalgar Sports Park doing similar activities.
“They do projects around the community for everything from going to seniors homes and helping out to big fundraising and looking after parks,” said Bryan Robinson, Keller Williams salesperson and Glen Williams resident.
The cross-pollination between the organizations was a matter of perfect timing. Griffin wrote to several businesses asking for donations for the project. Robinson, who has known Griffin for a long time, responded. The pair worked out a deal to sponsor a bench along the Credit River. But as Red Day was coming up, Robinson offered the extra pair of hands for the project. Thus, the project took flight from there.
The GWCA and Keller Williams' efforts primarily focused on the west side of Main and Confederation streets. As part of phase two of the project, the GWCA is also eyeing the east side where the war memorial is located.
A Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists' report indicates that 46 per cent of honey bee colonies were lost nationally during the winter of 2021 and 2022. That is almost twice the rate between 2007 and 2021.
For more information, including contact details for donating, check out the GWCA website.
