CHADDS FORD – North American Land Trust (NALT) recently was awarded a $276,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) in support of NALT’s Pollinator Meadow Initiative in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
NALT has converted more than 50 acres of lawns and fields into pollinator habitat throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. The initiative began in 2022 with NALT’s acquisition of 71 historic acres in Chadds Ford Township and its creation of Brinton Run Preserve, a conservation area open to the public. At the preserve, NALT converted approximately 24 acres of cool-season grasses into pollinator meadows.
“We are very grateful for DCNR’s support of this important environmental initiative,” said NALT President Steven Carter. “Creating pollinator habitats to support wildlife is a part of NALT’s conservation mission in the region. That is why we decided to offer this pollinator meadow conversion initiative to municipalities, landowners, and homeowner associations throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania.”
Following the creation of pollinator meadows at Brinton Run Preserve, several landowners contacted NALT seeking assistance in converting their lawns or fields into pollinator habitat. NALT completed three pollinator projects in the region: a 10-acre project with a homeowners’ association in Delaware County; a 9-acre project on three properties in Delaware County, and a 12-acre project with Concord Township at the township’s Bush Hill Farms Park.
“We are planning to convert an additional 20 acres of habitat in 2025,” said Wyatt Moyer, an environmental scientist at NALT. “Meadow conversion projects have yielded a significant increase in pollinator species by increasing nectar resources and creating pollinator habitats.”
Moyer said NALT has partnered with the Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund (BBHF) and used resources from the Monarch Joint Venture to design and implement best management practices for pollinator meadows. When the NALT team designs a pollinator meadow, it often recommends additional habitat device options, such as bluebird boxes, bat boxes, and American kestrel boxes. NALT also offers interpretive signs and trail maps to educate and enhance the community benefits that pollinator habitats have to offer.
“This layered approach supports the overall habitat and the educational value provided to the community,” Moyer said.
According to the BBHF, one-third of our food supply – especially fruits and vegetables – depends on pollinators. Critical pollinator habitat in North America has been disappearing over the past decades. The organization estimates that the Monarch butterfly population has declined by 80 percent and the honeybee population has declined by 40 percent.
Moyer said the Monarch butterfly sightings have increased significantly in areas where there are pollinator meadows. At Brinton Run Preserve, visitors can hike on several trails and observe the pollinator meadows with peak blooms in July and August. With the help of the Monarch Joint Venture store, the NALT has installed several informative signs to help visitors understand the science behind Monarch butterfly conservation.
DCNR is the primary source of state support for Pennsylvania recreation, parks, and conservation initiatives. Grant funding from DCNR assists hundreds of communities and organizations across Pennsylvania to plan, acquire, and construct park and recreation facilities, trails, and public open space.
“Pennsylvania’s local parks, trails, and natural areas create many opportunities to be active outdoors,” said Tom Ford, director of DCNR’s Bureau of Recreation and Conservation. “They define our communities and make them places where people want to live, work, and play. Our grants help our local partners meet the vision they have for their communities and regions.”
If you are interested in learning about the benefits of establishing pollinator meadows on your property, contact the staff at NALT by visiting our website.
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