Hopewell Elementary School Fifth Graders Leave Their Mark

Press release from Sourland Conservancy:

June 28, 2020

This past week, June 18th through June 24, Sourland Conservancy hosted the Hopewell Elementary graduating fifth graders and their family to commemorate the moment by planting a pollinator meadow. The families each chose a 30-minute time slot, in order to maintain strict social distancing, to plant in the Foraging Forest in Hopewell Borough Park - which is right next door to their school.

By participating in this project, the graduating fifth graders were able to leave a lasting legacy for families to enjoy for many years to come. Visitors of all ages will find berries, nuts, fruit, leaves, and roots - as well as peace and tranquility in Simcha’s Garden. Pollinators attracted by the flowers we plant will help the native trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants produce fruit.

The Foraging Forest is a unique restoration project that brings together habitat restoration and community engagement in an innovative and creative way. Restoration projects are often thought of as being important only for plants and animals, but we don’t usually include humans as those who benefit from doing restoration projects. Restoration projects are important for everyone. Areas that are restored are beneficial for all beings that live on this land, from pollinators, soil microbes, birds, and humans.

Thanks to Boy Scouts, Sam and Gavin Fowler, for marking the trail, Hopewell Harvest Fair for the grant to purchase the plants, and Mercer County Park Commission for partnering with the Sourland Conservancy to make it all happen! Special thanks to Helen Corveleyn, HES STEM facilitator, for helping to coordinate this special project and Sourland Conservancy volunteers for staffing the Pollinator Pocket Planting!

This press release was produced by Sourland Conservancy. The views expressed here are the author's own.