Sustainable Warwick Pollinator Pathway Committee

Since early 2024 the Sustainable Warwick Pollinator Pathway Committee has been actively promoting native plants in the Warwick Valley. Besides supporting the Warwick Valley Plant Natives Alliance and holding webinars on topics like the Wild Woods Restoration Project and Integrative Pest Management, we have also started selling yard signs that welcome pollinators to our town:

Want to get a sign or two?

Purchase these signs at Corwin Florist, 12 Galloway Road, Warwick — or email us pollinators@sustainablewarwick.org for details.

Beginning in April 2024, we are planning monthly committee meetings at Mountain Lake Park to work on committee business and lend a hand with gardening projects around the Park. Contact us via email (pollinators@sustainablewarwick.org) if you would like to get involved. Check our events calendar for upcoming dates!

We also continue to support the Warwick Valley Pollinator Pathway.

Warwick Valley Pollinator Pathway

What is a Pollinator Pathway?

WVPP is part of a grassroots movement focused on establishing pollinator-friendly habitat and food sources for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinating insects and wildlife along a series of continuous corridors.

Why do we need to promote pollinators?

We have a declining bird, bee and insect population in Warwick. Our local birds depend on our local insects for food. Local insects need native plants to reproduce. It is simple, we need to grow fewer foreign species, reduce our sterile lawns, cut down on the use of herbicides and pesticides and plant more natives plant species.

Why are Native Plants essential to the lifecycle of pollinators?

Native plants are important because they provide high quality food and shelter for native pollinators, birds, and other animals. These plants and animals have evolved to depend on each other for survival. Some of these insects and birds have evolved to only use specific native plants (for example, Monarch butterflies and milkweed plants)

Why are native plants important to the Warwick Valley bird population?

Native plants attract beneficial insects and their larvae (e.g. caterpillars), which is a critical food source for most terrestrial bird species. 96% of North America’s terrestrial bird species feed their young insects, insect larvae, and spiders. Habitat that is rich in native plants is essential for supporting these insects and the birds that consume them. Non-native plants fall far short by comparison. For example, researches have found that native Flowering Dogwood supports 117 species of butterflies and moths, compared to the non-native Kousa Dogwood (from China), which supports zero.

How can I join the Warwick Valley Pollinator Pathway?

Everyone can join by avoiding the use of pesticides and lawn chemicals and planting native, pollinator-friendly plants (lists of native pollinator plants available here). Residents can add anywhere from one pollinator-friendly tree or planter, to a small pollinator garden, to a full meadow. Achieving and displaying connectivity is important to the success of our project, please include your street address to be added to the map (Your name will not be visible on the map).

JOIN

Member’s Photos - Click the button to share photos of your garden! We especially love to see photos that also have butterflies, bees, hummingbirds or other pollinators enjoying the fruit of your labors. Please include a description, location, and your name.

Share your photos

Click on the photos in the gallery below to see the full size image.