At the Park District of Franklin Park, we have implemented many ways to be environmentally friendly. Now, we want to share these tips with you! Once a month, we will share one environmentally friendly tip that will teach you how to be kind to our planet. Our fourth environmentally friendly tip is to raise awareness for pollinators and spread the word about what we can do to protect them.
In honor of National Pollinator Week (June 19-June 25), we are doing our part to address the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. Pollinators are dying because their food and homes are disappearing, diseases have increased, and rising temperatures and natural disasters are affecting their ability to survive – all of which are related to climate change. Our goal is to share this message and teach the community about their importance and ways to help.
There are so many different ways you can celebrate pollinator week at home!
- Plant in clusters to create a “target’ for pollinators to find.
- Allow material from dead branches and logs remain as nesting sites; reduce mulch to allow patches of bare ground for ground-nesting bees to utilize; consider installing wood nesting blocks for wood-nesting natives.
- Reduce or eliminate pesticide use in your yard. If you must use chemicals, always follow directions and never overuse or over-apply it.
- Reach out to others and inform them about pollinators and their importance.
- Support local bees and beekeepers by buying local honey.