Imagine if the roadsides of highways were a meadow of native flowering plants instead of mowed grass. Imagine the beauty and pollinator habitat this would create. The dream of Pollinator Roadsides, a project of Waterloo Region Nature, is for this to become the norm. These roadside areas are potentially important pollinator corridors through cities and across Ontario. The goal is to promote the planting of roadsides with pollinator-friendly native plants to enhance their beauty and provide habitat for native pollinators and other wildlife in Waterloo Region, and to set an example for other regions in the province.

Why should you care about planting native plants for pollinators?

Pollinators (e.g. butterflies, bees, moths, flies and birds) have declined alarmingly in recent decades. One of the main reasons is habitat loss, so it is necessary to recreate habitat for them.

For example, it reduces mowing (necessary only once every 2 or 3 years instead of about 4 times a year), which saves on gas consumption and labor costs. Native perennials also have greater water retention, reduce the risk of flooding, improve air quality, increase biodiversity by creating valuable habitats for pollinators, and are drought-resistant and attractive.

The beginning of pollinators along the road

Pollinator Roadsides is a community-led enterprise initiated by Jennifer Leat in November 2022. In consultation with the Region of Waterloo, the Pollinator Roadsides Working Group decided to conduct a pilot planting and was awarded a 2023 Environmental Grant from the Region of Waterloo. The Working Group selected a suitable location, identified a list of native plants, devised a plan for a pilot study of three different preparation techniques, created a Facebook page and logo, obtained sponsorship from local businesses for materials and plants, and rallied a group of volunteers from Waterloo Region Nature, Waterloo Gardeners, and through social media.

Location and pilot study

This project took place along Fischer-Hallman Road in Kitchener. During the fall and winter of 2023, volunteers saved seeds and grew plants using winter seeding.

The team then envisioned a pilot study of three different preparation methods:

1. Preparation with paper covered with sand and compost.
2. Preparation with horticultural vinegar, an environmentally friendly preparation method.
3. Sow and plant directly between existing vegetation.

Working groups

On a cold Saturday in April, 25 volunteers joined the first working group. They moved four large piles of sand and one pile of compost that had been delivered the week before, and spread them over one of the pilot areas. They then sowed the seeds, which were already cold-stratified.

The second workgroup was in June, when 22 volunteers braved the windy weather to plant plugs, seedlings and larger plants. Some of the plants were purchased with the grant, but many had grown over the winter or were donated from the volunteers’ own native gardens. After dividing the plants into sizes and distributing them across the three pilot areas, they began planting, transforming an ordinary roadside into a meadow of native plants. They estimate they planted between 1,500 and 2,000 plants that day.

Project results

The trials will determine which of the three site preparations results in the best plant growth. Ultimately, the Pollinator Roadsides team hopes this information will be used by Waterloo Region to develop more roadside plantings and encourage this practice in the region when possible.

Get involved

If you are interested in getting involved or supporting this project, you can join the Pollinator Roadsides Waterloo Region Facebook page. If you live in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, Pollinator Roadsides is always looking for volunteers to help. There may be more planting to be done in the fall and there may be similar projects in the future. If you live elsewhere in Ontario, you may want to consider starting a similar project or getting involved with local habitat recreation initiatives.

Jennifer Leat is a retired professor from the University of Waterloo. In addition to running Pollinator Roadsides, she is an avid birder and photographer, particularly wildlife photography. Her garden is designed to attract birds and other wildlife.