Pollinator pilot proposed for right of ways in Wellington County

Right of ways across Wellington County could soon become a little more pollinator-friendly thanks to a new pilot project. 

Alongside a number of other municipalities, the County of Wellington has joined a Southwestern Ontario working group led by the Canadian Wildlife Federation to explore planting pollinator habitats on their road right of ways. 

To start, staff have proposed the county roads committee plant two trial pollinator habitats at right of ways at the McNamara Tract at 8646 Wellington Road 16 in Arthur and Cumnock Tract at 7749 Wellington Road 17 in Alma. 

Staff said potential benefits of the project include lower long-term maintenance costs, water and snow capture, roadside aesthetics along with providing pollination services and climate change mitigation.

If successful, other future planting locations may be considered throughout the county. 

The county will receive an appropriate seed mix from the CWF for the trial pollinator planting locations alongside consultation services. 

CWF will also possibly provide funding to help with invasive species control and equipment rental.

Planting of these trial locations is scheduled for this fall. 

Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.