Bee-friendly pollinator meadow planned for Kelowna park

UBC OKANAGAN RESEARCH PROJECT WILL HELP RAISE AWARENESS OF POLLINATOR SPECIES

KELOWNA – Researchers from UBC Okanagan will set up a 'pollinator meadow' near Brent’s Grist Mill to help highlight the plight of bees in the valley.

Kelowna council agreed Monday to allow the Pollinator Project to go ahead on half a hectare of city-owned land in Brent’s Grist Mill Heritage Park.

Low density urban sprawl has made serious inroads into the natural habitat which sustains pollinator population, the agreement notes.

“The partnership will transform an under-utilized site into a pollinator meadow to benefit a multitude of environmentally-threatened pollinator species,” property manager Mike Olson says in his report to council recommending the agreement be adopted.

The agreement stipulates UBC Okanagan is responsible for all aspects of the project, which will be run by Nancy Holmes, an associate professor in the department of critical and creative studies.

Plans are for volunteers to help re-establish native plants in the meadow and establish water conservation on-site.

Once established, the pollinator meadow will be used to attract locals to on- and off-site workshops and presentations.

The one-year agreement allows the city to terminate with one month notice and runs from March 31, 2016, with an option for both sides to extend it by one year.

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