The City of St. Catharines has partnered with Bee City Canada to make a commitment to protect pollinators, like bees in our community. Research from around the world supports evidence that pollinator populations are declining. Find out how you can help our pollinator population and learn why pollinators are so important to the environment.
How can I help?
The best way to help is to make sure that your property and garden are pollinator friendly. Here are some tips that you can try:
- Cut your grass less often
- Avoid using pesticides on your lawn and garden
- Grow pollinator-friendly plants
- If you have limited space, you can plant flowers in containers on a patio, balcony or window box
Planting a pollinator garden |
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When planting your garden, choose a mixture of plants which bloom in spring, summer and fall. Different flowers, colours, shapes and scents will attract a wide variety of pollinators. Please take these things into consideration when planting a garden to attract bees:
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Pollinator plant species |
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Plant any of these native species to help attract pollinators:
You can plant any of these non-native species to help attract pollinators:
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Our commitment
We're committed to protecting pollinators and their habitat. Since becoming a Bee City, we have:
- Partnered with Small Scale Farms to install beehives at Happy Rolph's Animal Farm
- Created natural areas on City properties
- Partnered with local organizations and community groups to plant pollinator gardens with native flowers, field grasses and other plants to give bees, butterflies and other pollinators a place to feed
Frequently asked questions
Review the frequently asked questions about pollinators.
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Why are pollinators important? |
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More than 75 per cent of all flowering plants on earth need help with pollination – they need pollinators. Pollinators help more than 1,200 crops, which means that one out of every three bites of food you eat, is made possible because of pollinators. In addition to the food we eat, pollinators support healthy ecosystems that:
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Why are bees important? |
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Bees are some of the hardest working creatures on the planet and our world would be a much different place if bees didn't exist. To highlight this fact, consider these numbers:
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What is a pollinator? |
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A pollinator is anything that helps carry pollen from one part of a flower to another. This must take place for the plant to be fertilized and produce fruits and seeds. Some plants are pollinated by insects and animals, such as:
Some pollinators, including many bees, intentionally collect pollen and transport it specifically for pollination. Others, such as butterflies, birds and bats, move pollen accidentally while they are drinking or feeding on nectar. |