Community Corner
Fall Seed Drive At Chelmsford Park To Benefit Butterflies
Help save the monarch butterfly and improve the pollinator habitat at Chelmsford's Roberts Field by donating flower seeds this fall.
Help save the monarch butterfly and improve the pollinator habitat at Chelmsford’s Roberts Field by donating milkweed and wildflower seeds to the “Roberts Field Seed Drive” this fall.
Through October 16, bagged and labeled seeds can be dropped off at the Roberts Field Trail Map Kiosk located behind the Chelmsford Fire Station at 263 Old Westford Road. Seed types should be individually bagged and labeled with the plant name and general location of the collection.
The Seed Drive aims to increase the diversity of native flowering plants at the park and add more habitat for Monarch butterflies, by planting a variety of seeds in Pollinator Park’s flowering meadow and near the pond shore. The Seed Drive is being organized by the volunteer group the Friends of Roberts Field.
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Milkweed is essential to the survival of monarch butterflies, as their caterpillars only eat milkweed plants (Asclepias spp.) and butterflies need milkweed to lay their eggs. A diverse mix of wildflowers such as Black-Eyed Susans, Asters and Coneflower provide food and habitat to pollinators like bees, moths and butterflies. All of these native flowering plants (and more) produce seeds that can be collected locally in backyards and public spaces, or purchased and donated, to be planted by volunteers at Roberts Field.
More information about collecting seeds and a list of suggested wildflower seeds to collect can be found at www.FriendsofRobertsField.org/seed-drive. To learn more about the Seed Drive or to volunteer to help with planting, please contact Bill Askenburg by email at bill@friendsofrobertsfield.org or phone at (978) 455-1405.
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The Friends of Roberts Field is a non-profit volunteer group founded in 2013 to encourage greater appreciation and public use of the park, and with the cooperation of the Town of Chelmsford and Conservation Commission, recently enacted a Habitat and Trail Plan to preserve, protect and improve the natural areas of the neighborhood park. Please visit www.FriendsofRobertsField.org for more information.
