In the local news: Dr. Cynthia Smith and a pollinator garden…in a landfill
Associate professor and Education Director of the Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PEREC) Dr. Cynthia Smith designed a pollinator garden at the Prince William County Landfill and directed 200 volunteers, who installed this 0.5 acre project over two weekends in April.
The project was a joint effort of several groups. Keep Prince William Beautiful secured $20,000 from a Keep America Beautiful/Lowe’s Community Impact grant to fund the project. The Prince William County Solid Waste Division, Bees in Schools LLC, the Prince William Conservation Alliance, and George Mason University’s Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PEREC) worked to make the project come to fruition.
Repurposed canoes, pallets, and tires were used to create raised garden beds, a native bee hotel (which sounds so cool!), and a walking path through a pollinator-friendly meadow. These upcycled goods will support the health of native bees, honeybees, insects, and other wildlife for years to come.
The pollinator garden will be a new feature on the landfill bus tour when schools and other groups visit, and there are opportunities for teachers to work field trips to the site into their science curriculum.
Sources:
Potomac Local: https://potomaclocal.com/2018/05/29/old-canoes-used-to-make-prince-william-landfill-bee-insect-friendly/
