Why Pollinators Matter
One in every three bites of food you eat depends on a pollinator.
Pollinators – like bees, butterflies, birds, bats and even moths – play a vital role in our ecosystems and food production. Here on southern Vancouver Island, over 200 native bee species thrive, along with many other pollinating friends. Without them, most flowering plants couldn’t reproduce. That means fewer fruits, vegetables and healthy habitats for us all.
The Bigger Picture
Healthy ecosystems depend on pollinators. They help clean the air, stabilize soil, support wildlife and provide shelter during extreme weather.
What We’re Doing. 
As part of a citizen science project with UVic Geography students, we began by mapping pollinator gardens throughout our community. Now we are building pollinator corridors – we’ve prepared and planted two sites on Astoria Street at Willerton.
What is a pollinator corridor? It is a pesticide-free pathway of native plants that helps pollinators move between habitats, especially in urban areas.
How You Can Help
You don’t need a large yard to make a difference. Every balcony, boulevard or back yard can become part of the network.
Tips to Get Started
- plant native species – native plants support more species than non-native ornamentals
- grow food? add hedgerows! They attract birds and insects that eat pests
- grow flowers? Interplant native bulbs. They’re often deer-resistant and drought-tolerant
- provide water and bloom variety – choose plants that flower throughout the growing season
- skip the tidy-up – bare soil, dried stalks and leaf litter create homes for pollinators
- say not to pesticides – even treated plants can harm pollinators
- check out Habitat Acquisition Trust’s ‘Gardening with Nature‘
Spotlight: Garry Oak Ecosystems
Garry Oak ecosystems are the most biodiverse native ecosystems in Canada, and they’re right in our back yards – but less than 5% of their original habitat remains.
These ecosystems support:
- 800 insect and mite species
- 104 bird species
- dozens of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and many species at risk
If you have Garry Oaks, let the leaf litter lie – endangered species like the Propertius Duskywing butterfly depend on it
Community in Action
Our neighbours are making a difference! In 2023, Friends of Cedar Hill Park volunteered over 1400 hours with Saanich’s Pulling Together program removing invasive species and planting natives along the Cedar Hill Park chip trail – benefiting pollinators and biodiversity for future generations.
Join the Pollinator Movement
Whether you have a garden, balcony or boulevard, you can help.
- get involved with QCHCA
- start your own native planting
- help us expand the pollinator corridor
For more information and/or to find out how about volunteer opportunities, email us at qchca3003@gmail.com
Share your garden – send us a photo to qchca3003@gmail.com
