Conservation News

A warm thanks to all of the applicants for the 2024 School and Community Habitat Grant. We had 16 tremendous applications submitted for this year’s program. The SCHG application evaluation committee selected the following six.
The Farm at Trinity – The Native Prairie at The Farm at Trinity

Risdon Park, Saline – Pollinator Garden and Outreach Project

Mill Creek Middle School – Mill Creek Native Landscape Educational Habitat Project

Lyndon Township Hall – Lyndon Township Hall Native Gardens Project

Ann Arbor STEAM Northside – Phoenix Roots

EMU Children’s Institute – EMU CI Rain PlayGarden

We envisioned a Native Plant Garden that was not only visually appealing to our human visitors, but also welcoming and supportive to our local wildlife, including pollinators and birds. Our goal was to transform an underutilized space, at the entrance of our Community Center, into an appealing opportunity for education and enrichment, as well as a visual illustration of how native plants and pollinator-friendly planting can be both functional and aesthetically-pleasing.

The main purpose of the grant was to provide native plants in the form of plugs for a rain garden for WTPOF; a nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of incarceration in Washtenaw county by investing in the employment and development of formerly incarcerated men and women through farming and community engagement.

​The Bird Center of Michigan is very happy with our new native landscape, despite a few challenges we have had with the garden. A majority of the native plants can be found throughout the garden, but we have been struggling to keep up with the weeds encroaching on the southern half of the planting area.

Goals: Improve drainage and runoff from the paved parking lot areas, bring native and pollinator-friendly plants to the site for students to study, add beauty to a barren hillside of languishing grass.

One year later, most of our trees are thriving. We planted around three dozen trees as part of the WCCD habitat grant and around 90% survived their first year. Students have been remarkably careful around the trees planted near play areas and on the playground; we think the tree tubes help prevent collisions by making the trees more visible. Some trees are already outgrowing their tubes.

Our primary goals were to expose students to a variety of native trees and fruit trees, provide sheltered areas in an unshaded playground and fields, and create a richer ecological habitat around the school for the well-being and enjoyment of human and non-human species.

​The Bird Center of Michigan is very happy with our new native landscape, despite a few challenges we have had with the garden. A majority of the native plants can be found throughout the garden, but we have been struggling to keep up with the weeds encroaching on the southern half of the planting area.