Pollinators like bees, butterflies, bats, and hummingbirds play an essential role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and supporting agriculture.
Recognizing their importance, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has been helping to protect and restore pollinator habitats across the state.
From enhancing habitat within state parks and forests to transforming community open spaces, DCNR’s multi-faceted approach is fostering a buzz of positive environmental change.
Enhancing Pollinator Habitats in Pennsylvania State Parks
State parks are natural refuges for pollinators, and DCNR resource staff are actively incorporating pollinator habitat enhancements into restoration projects whenever possible.
Several parks have converted former lawns and agricultural fields into native meadows.
For example, Big Elk Creek in Chester County and Codorus State Park in York County have undertaken large-scale agricultural-to-meadow conversions, creating acres of native grass and wildflower habitats.
Prince Gallitzin in Cambria County and Mt. Pisgah in Bradford County have restored meadow buffers along waterways, improving water quality and pollinator resources.
One innovative collaboration at Swatara State Park in Lebanon County involved renewing agricultural leases with a provision that fields would gradually be taken out of crop production and planted in native meadows.
Some projects focus on grassland bird habitat, which also benefits pollinators.
For instance, Boyd Big Tree and Memorial Lake state parks in southcentral Pennsylvania have restored grasslands to support declining bird populations while simultaneously enriching the diversity of native plants that pollinators rely on.
Transforming Community Open Spaces: The Inverary Meadow Project
One standout initiative is the transformation of the Inverary community’s large common lawn in Chester County into thriving native meadows.
Traditionally, neighborhoods like Inverary feature large expanses of turfgrass which require frequent mowing, irrigation, and chemical maintenance, creating environmental and financial burdens while offering limited habitat diversity.
In 2022, the Inverary Homeowners Association teamed up with the Willistown Conservation Trust to reimagine a common area.
With input from residents and expert guidance, they decided to convert 9.5 acres of lawn into native meadows.
DCNR supported this vision through a grant funded by the Environmental Stewardship [Growing Greener] Fund.
In the spring of 2024, nearly 30 native species -- such as asters, goldenrods, milkweed, coneflowers, and native grasses -- were planted.
While native meadows take a few years to fully establish, the transformation was visible last summer as patches of yellow and green brought vibrant life to the fields.
The success of Inverary’s project is inspiring neighboring communities to explore similar habitat restorations, with plans to add another two acres of meadow in 2025 to further enhance the community’s green space.
DCNR Bureau of Recreation and Conservation regional advisors can provide advice on grants for conservation and recreation that include green infrastructure and wildlife habitat.
Lawn-to-Meadow DIY Kits
DCNR has also taken a grassroots approach to pollinator habitat restoration by distributing Lawn-to-Meadow DIY kits.
Since launching its dcnr Lawn-to-Habitat program several years ago DCNR has seen lots of interest in turning yards into more diverse plantings that support pollinators and have many benefits.
In a pilot program launched in spring 2024 with the support of a federal grant, 400 kits were distributed to individual homeowners, organizations, and state parks.
Each kit contained enough native seeds to convert a 1,000-square-foot lawn into a pollinator-friendly meadow, along with detailed resources on how to prepare and maintain the space.
These kits help demystify the meadow-creation process for homeowners, emphasizing that establishing a meadow is a gradual process -- starting with site preparation and requiring patience as native plants develop deep root systems over several years.
DCNR is evaluating the success of the program as it considers the possibility of providing additional DIY kits in the future.
Helping Pollinators in Small Spaces
Not everyone has access to large yards or open spaces, but even renters with balconies or small patios can contribute to pollinator conservation by planting native species in containers.
Recommended container-friendly native plants include beebalm, butterfly weed, creeping phlox, little bluestem grass, wood geranium, golden ragwort, and mountain mints.
These plants bloom at different times throughout the growing season, providing continuous food sources for pollinators.
Shade-tolerant plants like heucheras and ferns are suggested for less sunny spots.
For ideas, check the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service balcony pollinator design plan and find information about where to buy native plants on the DCNR website.
A number of organizations celebrate pollinators in June.
Learn more about how to contribute to a community science project on pollinators at INaturalist.
National Pollinator Week June 23-29
National Pollinator Week is being celebrated June 23 -29. Every meadow, garden, balcony and green space can count toward a brighter future for pollinators and our natural world.
Resource Links:
-- WHYY: New Book By Doug Tallamy Urges Everyone To Put Native Plants In Their Yards
-- Pollinator Gardens: Help Encourage Ecological Diversity In Your Own Backyard [PaEN]
-- Penn State Master Gardeners Certification As Pollinator Friendly Garden
-- Pollinator Vehicle License Plate Now Available From PennDOT To Support Pollinator Habitat Fund [PaEN]
Related Articles This Week:
-- June 26 In-Person Lake Erie Environmental Forum Features Native Plant Conservation Experts At Presque Isle State Park, Erie [PaEN]
-- Penn State Master Watershed Stewards Host July 10 Webinar Ahead Of Statewide Native Tree And Shrub Sale [PaEN]
-- Penn State Forestry Experts Host July 11 Webinar On Habitat Restoration As Part Of A Long-Term Strategy To Control Invasive Species [PaEN]
-- Penn State Extension: June 6 Webinar On Impacts Of Non-Native Plants & Bees On Native Pollinators, 1:00 p.m.
NewsClips:
-- Penn State Extension: An Interview With Dr. Harland Patch, Center For Pollinator Research and Pollinator Programming For The Arboretum At Penn State
-- Penn State Extension: Pollinator Resources For The Home Gardener
-- Penn State Extension: Safe ‘Soft Landings’ Habitats For Beneficial Insects
-- Penn State Extension Home Garden News: All About Pollinators, Beneficial Insects, Find Events Near You
-- LancasterOnline: Free Native Trees, Shrubs Available During Lancaster Water Week Starting Friday
-- The Burg: Camp Hill And Dickinson College Have Decided To ‘Bee’ Part Of The Solution As A Bee City USA
-- Williamsport Sun - Bill Bower: Reflections In Nature: Chance To See Few Seldom Seen Plants Was Worth The Trip
[Posted: June 5, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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