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New Initiative: Community Wildlife Habitat

Creating native habitat can be done in a few simple steps that are not only good for the environment and also has curb appeal. You can start by planting several native plants each year, pulling out the invasive plants and strategically placing a tree in order to capture water. Benefits of Natives Trees & Plants​​: Critical to pollinators (birds, bees & other insects) More adaptable to area Requires less water for maintenance Absorption of water increases Keeps pollutants and sediment out of the water Increases wildlife habitat Increases air quality Why Choose Native Plants Native plants are at the heart of a pollinator-friendly garden providing food and host plant benefits beyond what most non-native plants can offer in any landscape. There are over 2,100 PA native plants of many colors, shapes and sizes attracting a variety of pollinators like bees, butterflies, beetles, and moths to perform their essential pollination services. ​Pollinators play a critical role in the reproduction of 90% of all flowering plants, and are involved in the production of about one out of every three bites of food that humans eat. Common Invasive Plants To Avoid Invasive plants are those that: Are not native to an area Spread quickly Little to no pollinator value Cause economic/environmental harm,or harm to human health ​List of common invasive plants in our area. Full list of invasive plants from PA Department of Conservation and National Resources. Rain Gardens Rain gardens are simple solutions to capture and retain stormwater close to the source, preventing polluted runoff. The average quarter acre lot (with a 2,500 square foot home) can contribute over 5,000 gallons of polluted runoff in a single 1 inch rainfall event. More information Lancaster County Conservancy Urban Greening Community Wildlife Habitat Lancaster Water Week Residential Demonstration Lancaster Tree Tenders Save It! Conservation Landscaping Composting Information Did you know? For every 5% increase of tree canopy, stormwater runoff decreases by 2%. Help us plant more trees!

Our number one action step for Water Week 2018 is Create Habitat. Attend any Water Week event and get a FREE native tree. Help install a rain garden or plant trees along a river. Participate in workshops through the Native Plant Conference to learn about plant propagation, pollinators, and wild edibles. You can even sign up to get your property assessed through the Lancaster Conservancy Community Wildlife Habitat program. https://www.lancasterwaterweek.org/create-habitat