Celebrating Beddington’s Butterflyway
Thanks to all who helped us get the word out, through signs and word-of mouth. It’s working! As we move into late summer, we are now up to 23 sites! A pollinator observation site (at least that’s what I am choosing to call it!) has been established near the 200 block of Hunterbrook Place, right along the ridge between Huntington Hills and Beddington Heights, with a lovely (donated!) picnic table right beside a grove of new flowering trees, which will be a great spot next Spring to observe who will come and visit the new blooms! We continue to engage the community and rally support for the Butterflyway project, and we are starting to see lots of interest even outside of the community with questions coming from as far as Mahogany for how they can be involved, or start a project of their own!
I got a great call from an employee at the City of Calgary Urban Conservation department. We talked about different avenues of involvement with the Beddington Butterflyway and the City, including City-run Education and Naturalization projects, and the City of Calgary Biodiversity Committee. Hopefully, Beddington, the City of Calgary, and the David Suzuki Foundation can soon join together to celebrate our ongoing efforts to support pollinators!
Some more good news: We have recently received support from Amanda and her local Beddington company Dragonfly Wellness for the project. Amanda keeps a focus on sustainable and environmentally friendly practices through her work and it’s great to have local businesses involved in our initiatives!
A Community Garden and Other Ideas
One of our community residents, Mavis, has brought to light the City of Calgary Community Garden grant, and is going to be leading the movement to have one established in Beddington! We need at least ten volunteers committed to the project for it to become a reality: contact [email protected].
Now that we have a (still growing) network in the neighbourhood, some of the longer-term goals for the project include community seed or plant purchases, plant exchanges, and educational seminars and demonstrations. If you have any ideas to include in our long- and short-term planning, don’t hesitate to reach out!
David Mulders
Apiarist and Butterflyway Ranger | [email protected]
Create Our Winter Planters!
We would like to keep our planters as breathtaking in the fall and winter as they were this summer! We seek some creative spirits to design and decorate our ten planters for their November-to-March “look.” We are keen on using natural material where possible. We have a budget and will help in any way we can! Contact [email protected].
