National Wildlife Federation Certifies New Habitat in Roswell

ROSWELL, GA – The National Wildlife Federation (NWF), America’s largest wildlife conservation and education organization, is pleased to recognize that The Goddard School at 11225 Woodstock Road in Roswell, Georgia has successfully created a Certified Wildlife Habitat® through its Garden for Wildlife program.

NWF celebrates the efforts of The Goddard School to create a garden space that improves habitat for birds, butterflies, frogs and other wildlife by providing essential elements needed by all wildlife – natural food sources, clean water, cover and places to raise young.

Certification also makes your Certified Wildlife Habitat® part of the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge, a national effort to restore critical habitat for pollinators.

“We are so excited to have another passionate wildlife gardener join us and create a Certified Wildlife Habitat. Over the last 40 years, nearly 200,000 wildlife gardeners have joined NWF’s Garden for Wildlife movement and helped restore wildlife habitat right in their own yards and neighborhoods,” said David Mizejewski, naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation. “Whether you garden in a suburban yard, an apartment balcony or a 10-acre farm, a schoolyard or a business park, or anything in between, everyone can create a home for local wildlife. Turning your space into a Certified Wildlife Habitat is fun, easy and makes a big difference for neighborhood wildlife,” he added.

“Our school has established a chapter of Save the Frogs, and we installed a frog habit this past April after our children raised their own frog, Gonzo.” said Paige Hardwick and Erika Posey, Goddard Systems, Inc. Teachers of the Year. “Our students enjoy watching nature, particularly frogs and our whole school wanted to do our part to help. Redesigning Gonzo’s Garden to make it more inviting to wildlife not only gives us something to enjoy but also helps us to teach our students about different birds, amphibians, mammals and insects.”

The Goddard School’s habitat is a part of their extensive Outdoor Classroom. “Our Outdoor Classroom affords students the opportunity to explore in Gonzo’s Garden, or work and play in the mud kitchen, construction and engineering zone, sensory area, or music and art area.” said Chris Dibling-West, on-site owner of the school. Gonzo’s Garden includes great sources of food for wildlife species including hummingbirds, birds, frogs and lizards, and insects. It includes a wide variety of pollinator plants that will attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds including impatiens, lavender, violet, lemon balm, basil, rosemary, snapdragon, celosia and petunias. We also have plants that provide nectar like butterfly milkweed, dianthus, asters, and marigolds. The children also planted food for people including squash, carrots, corn, sweet potatoes, and watermelon. The frog habitat, a bird bath, and water saucers are the primary sources of water and toad abodes and roosting houses add shelter for wildlife. Our garden is watered using rain water from our roof, captured in rain barrels. We have planted all native plants in our garden.

NWF’s Garden for Wildlife program encourages responsible gardening that helps pollinators and other wildlife thrive. It encourages planting with native species like milkweed and discouraging chemical pesticide use. With nearly 200,000 locations and growing, NWF’s Certified Wildlife Habitats and Community Wildlife Habitats recognize individuals, schools, groups and whole communities committed to providing habitat for wildlife, including pollinators. Each of the nearly 200,000 certified locations provides food, water, cover and places to raise young. This makes yards, schools, businesses, places of worship, campuses, parks, farms and other community-based landscapes into wildlife sanctuaries.