 The City of St. Thomas has been a designated Bee City since 2023, but our Parks and Forestry department has been working on bringing bees and other pollinators back to the forefront in the city for more than a decade. With 43 parks and over 700 acres of parkland, our Parks and Forestry department's work is vital in creating and maintaining sustainable urban planning where people, pollinators, and nature can live together and live well!  We connected with Adrienne Lacey-Griffin, Manager of Parks and Forestry, to learn more about the initiatives and work the department has been doing to support pollinators and promote conservation efforts right here in St. Thomas. If you have explored any of the 30+km of recreational trails in the city, you have likely noticed the native plant growth and the bees, butterflies, frogs, bunnies, and other insects and animals among the plants. Along all paved recreational trails, the paths are mowed in 1m swaths as part of a council-approved Trail Standard to promote native plant growth, increase vital insect populations, and reduce our carbon footprint. With 30+km of recreational trails to be maintained, this initiative may seem small, but it will significantly impact native plant growth and pollinator populations. Through this standard of maintenance, the department has seen increased populations of bees, butterflies, and other insects vital for the ecosystem. "The Trail Standard stemmed from a growing recognition of the ecological benefits of native plants," Adrienne explained. "Implementing the Trail Standard allows us to create habitats for native species while reducing our carbon footprint and equipment emissions. This initiative not only benefits plant growth but also aligns with our commitment to reducing greenhouse gasses." We are proud to have access to so many beautiful trails throughout our city and even more proud to know that thought, care, and intention go into the maintenance and sustainability of our trail systems. More native plants means more support for pollinators, which results in food production, natural blooms, and a healthy ecosystem!
Alongside the Trail Standard, our Parks and Forestry department does significant behind-the-scenes work, research, and activities to promote and support conservation and sustainability efforts. They not only maintain park spaces but also put work into researching, designing, meeting with contractors, conducting inspections, planting native species, and installing beneficial habitats and supports for the animals and insects that live in our beautiful city spaces. One example of this research and hard work is the bat boxes installed around Lake Margaret and the butterfly meadow to protect the endangered Little Brown Myotis bat. These little bats usually only weigh as much as a loonie or toonie, yet they can catch and eat up to 1,200 insects in just one hour, making them incredible and valuable pest control agents. The Little Brown Myotis bat is endangered due to a disease known as white-nose syndrome, and the hope is that these bat boxes will provide them with a secure place to roost and different spots to choose from to roost in. Alongside the bat boxes research, creation, and installation, parks and forestry staff have planted native seed mixes to encourage insect food sources for the bats, allowing bats to continue their natural insect population controls and reducing the need for chemical insect control interventions. "These efforts demand extensive research, knowledge, and passion," said Adrienne. "This year, staff have also researched and built six turtle nest protection boxes, funded by TD Friends of the Environment, to protect snapping turtle eggs laid in late June, with plans to build many more this winter." In addition to this work, the Parks and Forestry Department has been collaborating with local printing company Van Pelts to create interpretive signage to educate the public on the importance of insects, plants, animals, and natural areas.
Did you know that the City's Parks and Forestry department also grows the over 11,000 annual plants they use in their municipal greenhouse? The plants, which include petunias, elephant ears, Cyprus, cannas, salvias and many more, are all grown from seeds, cuttings, and rhizomes, many of which have been cherished for generations. "We are proud to have maintained a pesticide-free greenhouse for over ten years," Adrienne happily exclaimed. "We utilize biological controls, such as parasitic wasps for aphids, predatory mites for thrips and whitefly, and nematodes for fungus gnats." These beautiful annual plants help contribute to beautifying the city through ornamental gardening, but it is also essential that we have naturalized areas to balance out the ornamental areas. "Naturalized parks provide habitats for wildlife in all seasons, support biodiversity, and contribute to environmental health," said Adrienne. "Encouraging and supporting naturalized spaces, even when they don't always look pristine during seasonal changes, is important because these areas provide long-term environmental benefits and resilience." Naturalized spaces are essential for ecological balance, and they also offer us important spaces for educational opportunities to learn about nature, the importance of native plants, and the impact and importance of pollinators. "It's challenging to balance the need for green species with the preservation of native areas, but is it necessary for sustainable urban planning," Adrienne explained.
When it comes to native plants and naturalized spaces, they offer more than meets the eye. Native plants are often more resilient, requiring less water and maintenance, resulting in reduced emissions and a smaller carbon footprint. "Unlike turf plants with shallow root systems, native plants have deeper roots that prevent erosion," said Adrienne. "Moreover, they play a crucial role in supporting local wildlife and ecosystems." With many pollinators and animals depending on native plants and naturalized spaces for survival, these amazing plants and spaces can allow us to help the wildlife and ecosystems around us to continue surviving, thriving, and doing important tasks and jobs to keep a balanced system. One example of a native plant which has falsely gotten a bad rap is Goldenrod.  Goldenrod is often falsely blamed for being a source of seasonal pollen allergies due to its resemblance to Ragweed and simultaneous blooming period. Ragweed is actually the plant to blame since it is wind pollinated, with pollen grains designed to float through the air, whereas Goldenrod's pollen grains require animal pollinators to take its large, sticky pollen grains from plant to plant. But, Goldenrod is a fantastic native plant to have around, with over 100 Goldenrod species native to North America. It supports dozens of butterfly and moth species by serving as a caterpillar host plant and dozens of native bee species that can only feed their young specific pollen from native plants. Endangered monarch butterflies often rely on Goldenrod nectar to fuel their long fall migrations, and many native bee species nest and overwinter in the plant stems, along with songbird species feeding on the seeds.
As for becoming a designated Bee City, our Parks and Forestry department takes great pride in the designation, as it acknowledges and helps to promote the city's commitment to fostering a healthy environment for pollinators by cultivating diverse native plants and minimizing pesticide use. Our Bee City status highlights the city's dedication to protecting bees and other pollinators, who are crucial for sustaining food sources, supporting ecosystems, and contributing to natural resource production. With one of every three bites of food requiring the help of pollinators like birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles, and other small mammals, we must do what we can to help and support our essential pollinator friends, as well as help create sustainable and healthy ecosystems! "Promoting the City of St. Thomas as a Bee City encourages everyone to support pollinators by creating a healthy habitat rich in native plants and as free of pesticides as possible," Adrienne said. "Pollinators support our ecosystems and contribute to natural resource production by aiding plant reproduction, as well as fostering robust plant communities that contribute to healthy soils and clean water." Being a Bee City puts St. Thomas on the map for our leadership in environmental stewardship and community engagement in conservation efforts, and is something we should be very proud of. With only 85 Bee Cities in Canada, we are so proud of all the work our Parks and Forestry department has done and continues to do. We are thankful for their endless work, care, compassion, and thoughtfulness for our city, ecosystems, and spaces.
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