New Beverly Pollinator Garden At Historic Hale Farm Awarded Grant Funding

BEVERLY, MA — A $1,000 grant will help Green Beverly create a new pollinator garden at the historic Hale Farm.

Green Beverly recently received the Plant Something Bee-eautiful grant from Keep Massachusetts Beautiful. The project will transform 250 square feet of public landscape into a pesticide-free native pollinator habitat designed to provide nectar, pollen, shelter and seasonal food sources for pollinators.

Subscribe

The garden is tied to Green Beverly's broader sustainability work in the city.

"Our mission is to help all Beverly residents and businesses lead more sustainable lives through actionable information, inspiration, and education," said Dean Berg, executive director of Green Beverly. "This garden brings that mission to life at Hale Farm, where neighbors can see, learn from, and help create habitat for pollinators."

Grant funds will support native plants, soil preparation, education signage and volunteer coordination.

Green Beverly plans to have 20 volunteers help prepare, plant and care for the garden. The site also will join the Beverly Pollinator Pathway as a public demonstration garden.

Keep Massachusetts Beautiful said it awards $10,000 each year through its Plant Something Bee-eautiful program to help communities establish pollinator-friendly gardens in public spaces.

The program receives financial support from Edrington, a Scottish premium spirits company.

"Our Plant Something Bee-eautiful program beautifies public spaces while also restoring natural habitats for pollinators," said Neil Rhein, founder and executive director of Keep Massachusetts Beautiful. "Bees and other pollinators are an essential link in our food chain, and this program provides funding to help protect and restore essential habitats.

"We're pleased to support Green Beverly in this joint effort."

The project comes as pollinators continue to face pressures from habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change, according to the announcement.

Bees, butterflies and other pollinators help flowering plants reproduce, including many crops people depend on for food. Planting native gardens helps provide the food and shelter these species need to survive.