Otonabee Conservation and students in the Youth Leadership in Sustainability (YLS) Program (Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board) installed a rain garden at the new Beavermead Campground gatehouse today. Over 100 native trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers will enhance habitat and increase biodiversity in the City of Peterborough.
Native species of purple coneflower, big bluestem, red osier dogwood, and black-eyed Susan were specifically chosen for this site to provide habitat for pollinators. They are also drought tolerant and will therefore require minimal maintenance and watering.
“In the face of the climate and biodiversity crisis, it’s so important that students have opportunities for hands-on activities like this where they are engaged in constructive, restorative, solutions-based work and can connect this positive experience with classroom learning.”
Cam Douglas, Teacher and YLS Program Coordinator
With support from local community partners at GreenUP, the rain garden was designed to capture runoff from the roof of the new gatehouse. Rain will then be temporarily stored in the garden during a storm event and will slowly drain away reducing flooding, filtering pollutants, and channelling runoff into the ground.
This demonstration rain garden will provide opportunities for visitors to the park and campground to see how beautiful native species are and learn more about the benefits of water conservation.
Janette Loveys Smith, CAO/Secretary-Treasurer at Otonabee Conservation added, “This project will create a welcoming entrance to Beavermead Campground and highlight best practices for habitat enhancement and water conservation. Working together with City of Peterborough and our community partners demonstrates our collective commitment to climate change adaptation and watershed health.”
For further information, please contact:
Meredith Carter
Manager, Watershed Management Program | Otonabee Conservation
705-745-5791 ext. 223 | mcarter@otonabeeconservation.com