Project Swallowtail!

Giant Swallowtail - Gordon Robertson

Today  it's my pleasure to pre-announce Project Swallowtail!

Zebra Swallowtail - Megan McCarty

This initiative to increase pollinator habitat in a large chunk of downtown west Toronto is led by WWF Canada in collaboration with many other groups, including my own Horticultural Societies of Parkdale and Toronto.






Blue dots on the map show just some of the gardens and Block Ambassadors already included.

Kathy's Garden, Stanley Park - Clement Kent

What are we going to do? Simply, we're going to help your block get a much higher density of pollinator-friendly plants over the next several years, with the goal of greatly increasing pollinator numbers and health. We want to do this in a way that allows birds, butterflies, and bees to move
freely for park to park and home to home. And, we'll be using some locally rare but very visible species such as the swallowtail butterflies shown above to make it easy to see when your block has become a hotspot of pollinator diversity.

LEAF Young Urban
Forest Leaders

We're also going to involve local kids and young adults in several ways. Mobile apps to help them identify plants and pollinators will be rolled out, with awards going to young pollinator experts.

Perhaps your block will become part of a neighbourhood where collaborator LEAF helps young naturalists learn about, map, and plant an urban forest?

Or maybe your or your neighbours' kids will go to High Park to learn about native plants and animals from H.P. Nature?

Block Ambassadors

Would you like to help us enrich your block for pollinators? We need Block Ambassadors! You don't need to be a gardener or a naturalist - just someone who likes talking with neighbours and promoting this project. We'll ask you to donate a few hours a month of your time to helping your neighbours get the plants and the help they need. You can reach us at clementfkent@gmail.com [this address will change very soon now!] See our map of ambassadors in your vicinity.


Collaborators:

• World Wildlife Fund Canada
• Horticultural Societies of Parkdale and Toronto
• Pollinator Partnership Canada
• David Suzuki Foundation
• High Park Stewards
• LEAF
• City of Toronto Parks and Forestry
• Business Improvement Associations
• Toronto Botanical Garden
• North American Native Plant Society