Upper Valley Pollinator Information

Our Purpose

The purpose of the pollinator project Why Pollinators Matter (PDF), launched in 2017, is

• to educate the Upper Valley about the causes for the ominous decline in native pollinators, native bees in particular,
• to share information about the biology of native bees and their food and habitat requirements, and
• to persuade area residents to create NEW pollinator habitat.

Our Goal

100 new pollinator gardens in the Upper Valley by the end of 2018.

Information

• One: Upper Valley Pollinator Partners (PDF)
  UV Pollinator Partners is a coalition to promote awareness of the decline of native pollinators and to inspire actions to reverse this decline. Use this link for the current list of partners, including towns, Upper Valley conservation organizations, garden clubs, school groups, and others.
• Two: Pollinator Events held in 2017 (PDF)
  During 2017, we held or co-sponsored a dozen public meetings and field trips on topics related to pollinators, their decline and their needs for food and habitat. In this section you will find links to our handout on pollinator gardens, videos of the three forums held at the Montshire Museum, and notes from some of the field trips.
• Three: Creating and Improving Pollinator Habitat (PDF)
  Tips for creating pollinator habitat for gardens, meadows, farms, roadsides and golf courses. Bees' Needs (PDF) - a special section on pollinator nutritional and habitat needs and guidelines for the design of pollinator gardens, based on recent research (with links to this research). There is a section on how the honeybee industry presents challenges to native bees.
• Four: Pollinator Plants (PDF)
  Lists of pollinator plants, suitable for New England, seed sources and pollinator plant vendors.
• Five: Local Pollinator Gardens (PDF)
  A list of nearby pollinator gardens to visit in the Upper Valley; some gardens are well established and some new. We will build a map and list of the new pollinator gardens created in 2017 and 2018. You can record your new pollinator garden from this section and you can find out about our new Facebook page where educators and pollinator gardeners can post photos and compare garden observations.
• Six: Key Websites, Books and Research Articles on Pollinators (PDF)
  Link for information on the economic contribution of native pollinators to agriculture, as well as their key role in larger ecosystems and related implications for biodiversity. There are links to reports and recent surveys that document the worldwide pollinator decline, recent research on the decline in native pollinators - including the role of pesticides in the decline, and the related role of honeybees. The Books (PDF) list notes those available at the Howe Library.
• Seven: Pollinator Gardens for Schools (and others) (this link is under construction)
  Checklist for creating, installing and managing pollinator gardens. Look here for tips on starting seeds, the care of pollinator gardens and how to identify common weed seedlings that may get a toe-hold in a new pollinator garden. Also here is a link to bee house design ideas, from the simplest to the most elaborate bee hotels.
• Eight: Resources for Educators (and others) (PDF)
  For educators and the interested public, this section has links to classroom materials, posters, lesson plans, videos and news articles, handouts and our PowerPoint on Why Native Bees Matter.

Updated February 2018