Fonthill News

On March 31, 2021 Fonthill Rotarian Troy Killick was joined by his family to share their exciting family project with the Rotary Club of Fonthill!

 

Wild pollinators such as butterflies and bees are crucial to human survival. Climate change, development, and widespread pesticide use are compromising their habitat and food sources.  Overall, invertebrate species have declined 45% over the past four decades. The 3 prime drivers of this insect loss are habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. 

 

Insects are irreplaceable in the natural world – they are a key food source for birds and fish, and are vital in forests and fields as decomposers.  Not to mention that over three-quarters of wild flowering plants and one-third of the foods we eat depend on insect pollination.  It is estimated that wild insects provide ecological services worth $57 billion each year.

 

A Butterflyway is a network of at least 12 native wildflower-filled plantings (a.k.a. “pollinator patches”) in a neighbourhood or community. Butterflyways create habitat corridors for pollinators.

 

The Butterflyway Project aims to help people step up efforts to help pollinators find food and shelter.

 

Butterflyway Rangers are local volunteers recruited by David Suzuki Foundation to lead the project in our communities! What do they do?

If you are interested in learning more and/or being a part of The Butterflyway Project, please contact Michelle at michelle_killick@yahoo.com.

 

The goal for Fonthill is to plant at least 12 pollinator patches –signs will be available to denote official Butterflyway pollinator patches.

 

If you are located in another part of the Niagara Region, Michelle can help put you in contact with a Ranger in your area (there are several throughout Niagara).

 

Butterflyway Project - PowerPoint presentation (pdf) t.ly/GL5A

 

Butterflyway Project - Pollinator flier (pdf) t.ly/gVQM

 

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