Go Native with Your Green Space

If native species could talk they’d have some very long stories to tell! Native plant and and pollinator species have evolved over the ages to maintain a delicate balance within our ecosystem. They are the humble workers that help keep whole ecosystems strong and resilient despite being threatened by invasive species, diseases, pesticides and habitat loss and extreme weather to name a few challenges. Urban environments are especially challenging because the green areas are sparse and disconnected.

The good news is that City of Toronto is offering grants of up to $5,000 to help protect native species. Through the PollinateTO Grants, the City supports community-led projects that will convert a space into a new pollinator garden or expand an existing garden by adding native pollinator-friendly plants. Eligible PollinateTO projects must involve the community, directly result in the creation of pollinator habitat in Toronto that is accessible to the public and also include an educational component to inform the public about pollinator stewardship.

Communities like Liberty Village have an opportunity to bring together adjoining buildings to create little “pollinator corridors” that would allow native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to spread out safely. If working on nature-based solutions to conserve and protect biodiversity interests you, reach out to us! We can offer grant writing help and coordinate actions among neighboring buildings in the Liberty Village area.

For more information on what the city is doing, you can check out Toronto’s Pollinator Protection Strategy  and Biodiversity Strategy .