Background
In 2018, the City of Brampton launched the
Don’t Mow, Let it Grow initiative that focuses on converting select areas of public land covered by turf grass into pollinator habitats and meadows. This initiative will help beautify Brampton and make it a more healthy, resilient and environmentally sustainable city.
Dearbourne Park No-Mow Area - Before planting Dearbourne July 2024
In Spring 2022, a significant milestone was achieved when Dearbourne Park was selected as the first No Mow site within a neighbourhood park. In Summer 2022, the site received overwhelming community support during an August open house, leading to its designation as a pilot project. The purpose of this pilot is to establish a community-led project that focuses on creating and maintaining pollinator habitats in local neighbourhoods, while also providing opportunities for learning about pollinators, biodiversity, and habitat building through the formation of a volunteer community group.
Through this project the City aspires to foster a sense of environmental stewardship among local residents and promote ecological well-being for generations to come.
Project Benefits
- Local biodiversity promotion
- Supporting ecosystem service
- Local climate change mitigation
- Community activation, capacity building and educational opportunities
- Increases park's aesthetic appeal
Project Plans
On March 21, 2023 there was an open house at Earnscliffe Recreation Centre on the Dearbourne Park Pollinator Project. The project team presented the proposed project plan, habitat design options and planting plan for community feedback. Open house boards are provided below.
Project Plan, Habitat Concepts and Planting Plan Boards
Dearbourne Park Community Group
Through the Adopt-A-Park program, the City of Brampton is facilitating the creation of a volunteer community group that will plant, monitor and maintain the Dearbourne Pollinator Habitat. The community group will be responsible for the planting and long-term maintenance for the success of the habitat by hosting 4 activities per year consisting of planting, weed pulling, litter clean ups, and anything else the group comes up with.
Why volunteer?
- Increase biodiversity in your local ecosystem
- Learn about pollinators, native plants, and gain training from experts
- Connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for the environment
- Earn volunteer hours for school
- Enjoy the health benefits of spending time outdoors and engaging in physical activity
Are you interested in joining the group?
Fill out this form!
Project Updates
September 2024 - Community Planting
Members of the community came out and helped plant 250 native species into Phase Two of the Pollinator Habitat! Thank you to all who attended and to the those who helped paint a beautiful waste bin for the park.
July 2024 - Site Maintenance
Parks Crews are on site to help maintain the border and keep the garden looking nice. Keep a lookout for new mulch under the logs and a better defined seating area! Currently blooming in the garden is Bee Balm, Coneflowers, Black-eyed Susan, Tickseed, Blue Vervain and more!
May 2024 - Second Planting Event: Phase One (infill)
We had a wonderful group of people out to add more than 200 new plants to the first planted area within the garden. These included Wild Bergamot, Bee Balm, Swamp Milkweed, and Tickseed and Meadowsweet.
September 2023 - First Planting Event: Phase One
At the first every planting event, over 1000 native plants were added to the phase one area of the garden! This monumental endeavour was accomplished by a dedicated group of community volunteers who gave it their all!
August 2 2023 - Community Group Meeting
On August 2nd, the Dearbourne Park Community Group gathered for their first meeting at the pollinator habitat. The group received a tour of the habitat and future design plans, pulled invasive species, mulched trees and completed a bioblitz.
Check out the bioblitz results on the iNaturalist project page:
Dearbourne Park Pollinator Habitat Project
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June 2023 - Site preparations are underway!
Have you stopped by the habitat lately and wondered what the black landscape tarp is? The black tarp will solarize the grass and invasive species underneath so that when we plant the area with native pollinator plants in the fall, the plants have a better success rate at establishing in the Spring and following seasons. We will be removing the tarp in September for our community planting event. The tarp will then be placed over the second phase of the habitat which is directly to the left of where the tarp is today.
The log border around the habitat was placed to protect the area from grass cuttings and provide aesthetic value for the broader park space.
