The West Haven Pollinator Pathway project has received a $5,000 Community Match Fund grant from Sustainable CT, project coordinator David Carr announced.
The Pollinator Pathway project aligns with the objective of action 2.5 to “create a natural resource and wildlife inventory,” said Abe Hilding-Salorio, Sustainable CT’s community outreach manager, “and is eligible to receive matching funds for as long as they remain available.”
Using the money, Carr aims to establish pollinator-friendly habitats and food sources for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinating insects and wildlife by installing native plants that will support pollinator in West Haven.
“The West Haven Pollinator Pathway will help our community increase the biomass of native plants,” Carr said. “The project will succeed when lots of neighbors get involved and get excited about improving our natural world.”
The project’s next steps, according to Carr, are: working with the Department of Public Works, parks, libraries, homeowners and school employees to determine the final locations for the plantings; raising $5,000 between Feb. 1 and March 31; providing community education resources about the importance of pollinators; buying the highest quality and quantity of plants for the most comparable sources; planning “Last Frost Community Planting Days.”
Sustainable CT, managed by the Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University, is a statewide initiative that inspires and supports communities in becoming more efficient, resilient and inclusive.
To join the Pollinator Pathway effort, interested residents can attend a planning meeting at 1 p.m. Friday at City Hall, 355 Main St. They can also attend the West Haven Sustainability Team’s “Green Drinks” event at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at Iishin Ramen Bar, 291 Captain Thomas Blvd.
For the latest news and information about the West Haven Pollinator Pathway, residents can subscribe to the project’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pollinatorpathway06516/. They can also call Carr for details at (203) 877-2704, ext. 400826.
Carr said residents can find information about making West Haven a welcoming place for friendly pollinators in the community at https://www.pollinator-pathway.org/westhaven and https://sustainablect.org/.