Gastonia’s Keep Gastonia Beautiful program received a $5,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Gaston County for its Project Pollination, which addresses the decline of native bees and the desire to provide and protect habitats for bees and other insects.
“Our vision is to create unique spaces we are calling “mini meadows” where a small patch of land would be created and managed to support pollinators by providing native plants and habitat,” said Juliann Lehman, Keep Gastonia Beautiful administrator. “The goal is simple, but impactful.”
The pilot program of the project will focus on areas located at the City’s eight Fire Stations and the Farmers Market. The Fire Stations were chosen because the properties are maintained by the Gastonia Fire Department and do not have many visitors, so that the plants can pollinate without interruption. The “mini meadows” will vary in size at each location and volunteers will till the existing space, spread seeds from native wildflower plants, and allow the flowers to bloom and go to seed next season.
“I’m excited to see this project receive funding that will help our ecosystem and other wildlife,” said Mayor Walker E. Reid. The project is also the City’s way to support its Bee City USA Affiliation and also for the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge that was taken earlier this year.
Keep Gastonia Beautiful, Inc. is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., which is a national non-profit, public education organization dedicated to protecting natural beauty and improving waste handling practices in American communities. Keep America Beautiful, Inc. continues to educate millions of Americans on all aspects of waste handling and beautification practices, improving quality of life issues across the country.
