Somerville Pollinator Action Plan

A monarch caterpillar crawls along a blooming milkweed leaf

Engagement Opportunities

**Have 2 minutes? Tell us how you feel about pollinators and how (if at all) you'd be willing to help out! https://forms.gle/i1tqWDYoAAtuULvd8

**Do you have a garden? Tell us where it is to create a map of existing pollinator habitat in Somerville: https://arcg.is/1SjXr40

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Due to habitat loss and pesticide use, pollinator populations are declining in New England and worldwide. In response, Mayor Ballantyne’s Office and the Division of Public Space and Urban Forestry (PSUF) are developing a Somerville Pollinator Action Plan (SPAP) to identify spatial and behavioral interventions that create the best habitat for pollinators and wildlife in the city.

The Somerville Pollinator Action Plan will:

Describe Somerville-specific and regional pollinator species.
Explore pollinator habitat within the city’s network of urban open spaces.
Educate public servants and city residents on the interdependence of pollinators, habitat, and resilient urban life.
Propose ways that public servants and residents can foster Somerville-appropriate pollinator habitat.

The mayor has appointed a Somerville Pollinator Action Plan Advisory Committee to lead this effort. The committee is comprised of youth, community members and advocates, inter-departmental City staff, and members of relevant Somerville non-profit groups. They will set out goals for the planning process, engage the public, and hire a consultant to write the Plan. Through harnessing the expertise and passion of our citizenry and a qualified consultant, we will produce a document to guide how we care for and foster pollinator habitat to support regional populations and our own urban lives.

Engagement Opportunities

**Have 2 minutes? Tell us how you feel about pollinators and how (if at all) you'd be willing to help out! https://forms.gle/i1tqWDYoAAtuULvd8

**Do you have a garden? Tell us where it is to create a map of existing pollinator habitat in Somerville: https://arcg.is/1SjXr40

____________________________________________

The Somerville Pollinator Action Plan will:

Describe Somerville-specific and regional pollinator species.
Explore pollinator habitat within the city’s network of urban open spaces.
Educate public servants and city residents on the interdependence of pollinators, habitat, and resilient urban life.
Propose ways that public servants and residents can foster Somerville-appropriate pollinator habitat.

Questions? Comments?

We'd love to hear from you!

Share The process/progress of SPAP is fantastic. I am grateful for the city's support and the effort of the committee members. While probably not novel, below are a few thoughts I'd like to share in consideration of "Scope of Work". These are things I think about, so thank you for the opportunity to share them here. 1) Effort be made to consider bloom time and presence of open flowers to coincide with different pollinating insect species so that there is continuity from early spring through late fall. Specifically, there is a greater need to support early emergers as well as bees who live late into the season. 2) That the planting plan include site considerations of sun exposure and moisture retention, (soil also maybe?); shade and partial sun plantings will be a nice addition to the meadow areas. A maintenance plan is also important; inclusion in the plan of how pollinator support spaces will be kept once they are established is needed (i.e., removal of invasives and management of aggressive natives, evaluating the establishment/durability of the plant species) to have the desired abundance and species richness in that space. 3) Optimizing planting method for the plant species being used. Connections between planted areas is important to create an easily navigable pathway for pollinators through the neighborhoods. Planting within a space is also a consideration. Perhaps certain species are best planted in clusters for easy availability to pollinators, or in companion or complementary plantings. Utilization of all available space. 4) Maybe a side effort of this plan is to draw up a brief guidance for residents who want to establish their own pollinator gardens. How can our individual gardens best connect to those planted by the city? What can be planted at home that makes the best use of available space and resources? Thank you so much for everything you are doing! on Facebook Share The process/progress of SPAP is fantastic. I am grateful for the city's support and the effort of the committee members. While probably not novel, below are a few thoughts I'd like to share in consideration of "Scope of Work". These are things I think about, so thank you for the opportunity to share them here. 1) Effort be made to consider bloom time and presence of open flowers to coincide with different pollinating insect species so that there is continuity from early spring through late fall. Specifically, there is a greater need to support early emergers as well as bees who live late into the season. 2) That the planting plan include site considerations of sun exposure and moisture retention, (soil also maybe?); shade and partial sun plantings will be a nice addition to the meadow areas. A maintenance plan is also important; inclusion in the plan of how pollinator support spaces will be kept once they are established is needed (i.e., removal of invasives and management of aggressive natives, evaluating the establishment/durability of the plant species) to have the desired abundance and species richness in that space. 3) Optimizing planting method for the plant species being used. Connections between planted areas is important to create an easily navigable pathway for pollinators through the neighborhoods. Planting within a space is also a consideration. Perhaps certain species are best planted in clusters for easy availability to pollinators, or in companion or complementary plantings. Utilization of all available space. 4) Maybe a side effort of this plan is to draw up a brief guidance for residents who want to establish their own pollinator gardens. How can our individual gardens best connect to those planted by the city? What can be planted at home that makes the best use of available space and resources? Thank you so much for everything you are doing! on Twitter Share The process/progress of SPAP is fantastic. I am grateful for the city's support and the effort of the committee members. While probably not novel, below are a few thoughts I'd like to share in consideration of "Scope of Work". These are things I think about, so thank you for the opportunity to share them here. 1) Effort be made to consider bloom time and presence of open flowers to coincide with different pollinating insect species so that there is continuity from early spring through late fall. Specifically, there is a greater need to support early emergers as well as bees who live late into the season. 2) That the planting plan include site considerations of sun exposure and moisture retention, (soil also maybe?); shade and partial sun plantings will be a nice addition to the meadow areas. A maintenance plan is also important; inclusion in the plan of how pollinator support spaces will be kept once they are established is needed (i.e., removal of invasives and management of aggressive natives, evaluating the establishment/durability of the plant species) to have the desired abundance and species richness in that space. 3) Optimizing planting method for the plant species being used. Connections between planted areas is important to create an easily navigable pathway for pollinators through the neighborhoods. Planting within a space is also a consideration. Perhaps certain species are best planted in clusters for easy availability to pollinators, or in companion or complementary plantings. Utilization of all available space. 4) Maybe a side effort of this plan is to draw up a brief guidance for residents who want to establish their own pollinator gardens. How can our individual gardens best connect to those planted by the city? What can be planted at home that makes the best use of available space and resources? Thank you so much for everything you are doing! on Linkedin Email The process/progress of SPAP is fantastic. I am grateful for the city's support and the effort of the committee members. While probably not novel, below are a few thoughts I'd like to share in consideration of "Scope of Work". These are things I think about, so thank you for the opportunity to share them here. 1) Effort be made to consider bloom time and presence of open flowers to coincide with different pollinating insect species so that there is continuity from early spring through late fall. Specifically, there is a greater need to support early emergers as well as bees who live late into the season. 2) That the planting plan include site considerations of sun exposure and moisture retention, (soil also maybe?); shade and partial sun plantings will be a nice addition to the meadow areas. A maintenance plan is also important; inclusion in the plan of how pollinator support spaces will be kept once they are established is needed (i.e., removal of invasives and management of aggressive natives, evaluating the establishment/durability of the plant species) to have the desired abundance and species richness in that space. 3) Optimizing planting method for the plant species being used. Connections between planted areas is important to create an easily navigable pathway for pollinators through the neighborhoods. Planting within a space is also a consideration. Perhaps certain species are best planted in clusters for easy availability to pollinators, or in companion or complementary plantings. Utilization of all available space. 4) Maybe a side effort of this plan is to draw up a brief guidance for residents who want to establish their own pollinator gardens. How can our individual gardens best connect to those planted by the city? What can be planted at home that makes the best use of available space and resources? Thank you so much for everything you are doing! link

The process/progress of SPAP is fantastic. I am grateful for the city's support and the effort of the committee members. While probably not novel, below are a few thoughts I'd like to share in consideration of "Scope of Work". These are things I think about, so thank you for the opportunity to share them here. 1) Effort be made to consider bloom time and presence of open flowers to coincide with different pollinating insect species so that there is continuity from early spring through late fall. Specifically, there is a greater need to support early emergers as well as bees who live late into the season. 2) That the planting plan include site considerations of sun exposure and moisture retention, (soil also maybe?); shade and partial sun plantings will be a nice addition to the meadow areas. A maintenance plan is also important; inclusion in the plan of how pollinator support spaces will be kept once they are established is needed (i.e., removal of invasives and management of aggressive natives, evaluating the establishment/durability of the plant species) to have the desired abundance and species richness in that space. 3) Optimizing planting method for the plant species being used. Connections between planted areas is important to create an easily navigable pathway for pollinators through the neighborhoods. Planting within a space is also a consideration. Perhaps certain species are best planted in clusters for easy availability to pollinators, or in companion or complementary plantings. Utilization of all available space. 4) Maybe a side effort of this plan is to draw up a brief guidance for residents who want to establish their own pollinator gardens. How can our individual gardens best connect to those planted by the city? What can be planted at home that makes the best use of available space and resources? Thank you so much for everything you are doing!

Jennifer Clifford asked 10 months ago

Hello and thank you for your thoughtful feedback! I will take these comments and share them with the whole SPAP Advisory Committee. We will take them into account as we finish writing our "Scope of Work" and as we move in the planning phase this fall. Thank you for being involved and please stay in touch. - Alison Maurer, Planner of Ecological Restoration
Share Are the meetings online? I would like to join online but I can' find a link? on Facebook Share Are the meetings online? I would like to join online but I can' find a link? on Twitter Share Are the meetings online? I would like to join online but I can' find a link? on Linkedin Email Are the meetings online? I would like to join online but I can' find a link? link

Are the meetings online? I would like to join online but I can' find a link?

Chris A asked 12 months ago

Hello! Thank you for your question.
Yes, meetings are online and anyone is welcome to attend. You can find the meeting links under the "Zoom Meeting Link" section on the SomerVoice page. If you are on a smartphone, scroll down past the "Stay Informed" section to find it. On a desktop computer, it will be on the right side of the page. You can also find it by clicking on the meeting date under "Key Dates."