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Rooted in the Valley: The Buzz About Pollinators🌱


You may not notice them at first—a bee moving from flower to flower, a butterfly resting briefly on a bloom, a bird darting through the trees—but pollinators play a powerful role in keeping our parks healthy, vibrant, and full of life.


Pollinators include bees, butterflies, moths, birds, beetles, and even bats. These small but mighty creatures help plants reproduce by transferring pollen, making it possible for flowers, trees, and grasses to grow and thrive. Without pollinators, many of the plants that make our parks beautiful—and functional—would struggle to survive





Nearly three-quarters of flowering plants rely on pollinators, including many trees and shrubs that provide shade, erosion control, and wildlife habitat.


Why Pollinators Matter in Our Parks

Pollinators are essential to healthy park ecosystems.


In parks, pollinators help:

  • Support plant diversity, creating landscapes that are more resilient and visually appealing

  • Strengthen food webs, supporting birds and other wildlife

  • Improve soil and water health by sustaining native vegetation

  • Enhance visitor experiences, adding color, movement, and seasonal interest

Simply put, when pollinators thrive, parks thrive.



Parks as Pollinator Havens


Community parks can be surprisingly important refuges for pollinators. As natural spaces disappear in favor of development, parks provide vital pockets of habitat—especially when they include native plants, flowering trees, and naturalized areas.


Pollinators don’t need large wilderness areas to survive. A pollinator-friendly park might include:

  • Native wildflowers and grasses

  • Flowering trees and shrubs that bloom at different times of the year

  • Undisturbed areas where insects can nest or overwinter

  • Reduced pesticide use and thoughtful landscape management


Even small changes can make a big difference.


How You Can Help Pollinators in Our Parks


Visitors play an important role, too. Simple actions can help protect pollinators and their habitats:

  • Stay on trails to protect flowering plants

  • Avoid disturbing bees and butterflies—watch and enjoy from a distance

  • Learn about native plants and pollinators

  • Support pollinator-friendly practices at home


By being mindful park users, everyone can help create spaces where pollinators—and people—can flourish.



 
 
 

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