The Pollinator Project

With the generous support of the TD Environment Fund, this summer the
Wolfville Library was able to successfully create and present The Pollinator Project, a three-month program of art and science based
activities for children aged 3-12 focusing on the importance of pollinators and their habitats, ultimately resulting in a new pollinator-friendly garden adjacent to the library.

Beginning with a garden design workshop and planting session in May, the community created a pollinator-friendly garden featuring Meadowsweet, Climbing Honeysuckle, and Hyssop.

Though our room for displays is small, we made use of the counter space and butterflies were raised from caterpillars to Painted Ladies at the check-out desk and released outside.

The weekly art drop-in sessions for children aged 7-12 have focused on bees and butterflies. We had an overwhelming response to the program and local kids happily created “stained glass” butterfly art, drew close-ups of flowers and created a honeycomb art mural.

We hosted Perry Brandt, a local bee-keeper, for a presentation about the necessity of bee pollination and protection of our bees. He also  brought along a demonstration beehive to display. Held outside, on the covered back patio of the library, this event was open to all ages and we had 63 in attendance, even with rain showers!

The grant also funded  purchases of new
books and videos about pollination, bees, butterflies and pollinators to add to the library collection. Still to come on Tuesday, July 29 at 10am is the Beetime Story time for children aged 3 to 5 accompanied by a caregiver,
one more Drop-In Art Session on Thursday, July 31 and in August the Library Art Gallery will feature Bee related art.

More about the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation: Founded by TD Bank Group in 1990, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation
(TD FEF) is a national charity that funds environmental projects across Canada. With the support of more than 140,000 donors, TD FEF has provided more than $66 million to over 22,000 environmental projects and programs.

-Emily Leeson, Wolfville Library