Park Ranger Teaching Milton Homeowners to Attract Wildlife

Renowned park ranger, naturalist and educator Jerry Hightower will hold two free informative and entertaining open houses March 20 and 28 at Milton's City Hall to discuss gardening for wildlife and creating water features and other garden structures.

Both meetings will take place at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers at Milton's City Hall, 13000 Deerfield Parkway Suite 107 E..

During the first meeting, Wednesday, March 20, Hightower, a park ranger who specializes in Environmental Education at the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, will discuss gardening to ensure proper habitats for wildlife. At the second, Thursday, March 28, he'll explain creating ponds, pools and pergolas to beautify your garden.

These programs are sponsored by City of Milton's National Wildlife Federation (NWF) Community Wildlife Habitat Certification Project.

"A lot of people in Milton would think it would be important to have education workshops like this to enlighten themselves and others about what we can do to preserve homes for wildlife habitats, which really fits in the rural nature of the city and kind of our while vision of the city, which is that rural landscape," said Milton Sustainability Coordinator Cindy Eade.

"Those who are interested in having the city certified as a National Wildlife Habitat community are doing what they can on their property to make their property more wildlife friendly," she said.

Birds, butterflies, other pollinators and other wildlife will be attracted to the yards to enhance their beauty and to help conserve wildlife.
Milton is less than 50 homes and 10 businesses and/or churches away from being declared a National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat - just the fourth in the state.

This program teaches residents to conserve their natural environment in public and private spaces, provides gardening workshops and community education, and supports environmental education in local schools.

For more information on this project or the programs, visit the National Wildlife Habitat Certification Team's Web site or contact Milton Sustainability Coordinator Cindy Eade at 678-242-2509 or cindy.eade@cityofmiltonga.us.