Biodiverse Landscapes

Kanata North Regeneration Stewards are slowly transforming sections of noxious weeds and invasive plant species into wonderfully rich mini-meadows, filled with colourful native wildflowers for bees, butterflies, birds, and people to enjoy in the Morgan's Grant Right-of-Way. A small (but expanding) KNCG Friendship garden now sits at the entrance to the Kanata North Community Garden just north of Klondike Rd. The new much larger Kanata North Pollinator Patch demonstration garden is in progress just south of Klondike at Abbeydale Circle. 

Knowing that we depend on pollinators for 1 out of every 3 bites of food, concerned and engaged citizens are trying to do our part to help support them. Being aware that young people feel betrayed and abandoned by adults for inaction on climate and other ecological crises, we hope to model what it looks like to take global problems seriously, through local solutions.

Pollinator habitat restoration projects began in the Morgan's Grant Right-of-Way in 2016, when Hydro One cleared and reseeded much of the area between Terry Fox to just North of Brady with native wildflowers and grasses designed to choke out invasive species like toxic Wild Parsnip; as part of its required infrastructure maintenance program. You can find detailed background information on the Ottawa Stewardship Council's website. 

Pollinators have been on a steep decline for decades. Multiple threats including habitat loss, pesticide use and global heating are largely to blame. Large scale immediate changes to land use are necessary to reverse this trend. A host of ecological and economic benefits derive from creating and enhancing biodiverse landscapes. 

Urban meadows are healthy greenspaces full of self-sustaining native plants and grasses that provide habitat for pollinators and birds, while helping us fight climate change. Pollinators are crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems and our food web. Plants need them for reproduction, and we need pollinators to help plants make food for us 🍅. 

Urban meadows help cool the environment and sink carbon. Deep-rooted native perennials also slow and absorb stormwater ☔while filtering and improving water quality. Aside from these bonuses, the rich and cheerful beauty of meadow landscapes positively impact our own well-being. Studies show that being in nature helps to improve our moods and regulate our nervous systems, among other wonderful things.

Our vision is to create vibrantly thriving native wildflower and meadow habitat to benefit pollinating species 🦋🐝, while improving health and quality of life for people 🧑‍🤝‍🧑. 

☔ Did you know that mowed turf grass acts like an engineered hardscape (roads, sidewalks, driveways etc.)? When rainfall lands on engineered hardscapes, it picks up contaminants (pesticide, herbicide, fertilizer, pet waste etc.), volume, and velocity, before it arrives at a low-lying area. Unfortunately, the shallow roots of turf grass aren't equipped to help manage stormwater.

🐦‍ Fun fact, caterpillars are nature's nutritious hotdogs for many critters. Birds need thousands of caterpillars to feed their babies. For example, Chickadees need 6,000 to 9,000 caterpillars over 10-15 days to feed a single clutch.