"Reviving Our Pollinators: McMaster's Native Bee Nesting Garden"
When we hear about bees, we often envision honeybees, but a buzz of change is happening at McMaster University that's focusing our attention on something equally crucial – native bees and their pivotal role in our ecosystems.
Sim Jolly, a dedicated advocate for the environment, has spearheaded a project that's set to make an impact. He believes that these often-overlooked pollinators have a profound influence on the health of ecosystems and global food security. These native bees, indigenous to Ontario, comprise over 400 unique species, including solitary and social bees.
However, their existence is threatened. Climate change and rampant habitat destruction are causing a rapid decline in their population. Jolly and a team of students, staff, and faculty have taken a bold step to address this issue by creating a native bee nesting garden on McMaster's campus.
Nestled behind Alumni Memorial Hall, this garden features an array of pollinator plants and provides ideal nesting spots for native bees. Due to challenges such as pesticide use and habitat destruction, their underground nests are vanishing, leading to population declines. The garden offers a sanctuary where they can build their nests.
Susan Dudley, a biology professor at the Faculty of Science, highlights the diversity this garden will attract. "We create habitat nesting sites for a variety of bees, from clay-loving to sand-loving species, and ground nesters. It's a lifeline for these invaluable pollinators."
The garden's proximity to the Royal Botanical Gardens is another strategic choice, as it draws even more native bees to the area. The groundwork for the garden was laid by a group of third-year sustainability students as part of their class project.
But this project's success is a collective effort. Emma Chau, Alicia McLinden, Crystal Gilbert, and Ekim Bagree designed the garden with the guidance of bee experts and landscapers from McMaster's Grounds Department. They also created an implementation toolkit complete with materials lists, maintenance plans, and educational elements.
McMaster's Grounds Department played a vital role, providing funding, soil preparation, benches, and garden maintenance throughout the summer. The project also received support from local sources, including the Biology Greenhouse and the Parks Canada Ecological Corridors Program.
This native bee nesting garden is the next step in McMaster's commitment to the "Native Bees at McMaster" project. In 2020, this initiative was recognized as a Bee City Campus by Bee City Canada.
The recent planting event was made possible with the help of volunteers from the Academic Sustainability Programs Office, Nature at McMaster, Biology Greenhouse volunteers, and McMaster Facilities summer staff. And more planting is scheduled for November 7, 2023.
Sim Jolly encourages everyone to participate in sustainability-focused projects like this one. He believes it not only benefits the environment but also offers a sense of empowerment in the face of climate change. Moreover, he envisions this initiative as a catalyst for more research on native bees and hopes that other institutions will follow McMaster's inspiring lead.
In conclusion, McMaster's Native Bee Nesting Garden is a testament to the power of collective action in preserving the environment and supporting the invaluable native bee populations.
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