ecoLIVING London

Summertime work has begun in the Grove! Weeding, trimming, mulching and sweating, all took place yesterday during FOTC's work party in the Swallowtail Grove butterfly garden. 

Both myself and FOTCSI's President Thom McClenaghan had an opportunity to talk about the importance of the being involved in the community, the work being done in the grove and the importance of pollinators both to the grove and to the overall community.  

Here are two interesting facts regarding pollinating insects:

- Annually pollinators help produce over $1 Billion in fruits and vegetables
- 1 in 3 bites of food we take are the direct result of some form of pollination   

Pollinators include more then just butterflies however. Bees, hummingbirds, beetles, bats and in some situations reptiles can all fill the role of pollinator in a community. These creatures transfer the plant's pollen, which contains its genetic material necessary to produce fruits and seeds. Almost 75% of the worlds plants rely on some form of pollination. Pollination is not a no-reward relationship for the animals involved. Pollinators feed on the nectar, pollen and oils of the flower which are high in nutrients. Bee's for instance can consume their body weight several times over in a day in nectar as they move from plant to plant pollinating. 

In Swallowtail Grove the goal is to attract butterflies by planting certain varieties of plants, grasses, shrubs and trees who are favourite perches for different species of butterflies. Much like some of us who are picky eaters, butterflies although capable of extracting nectar and pollen from many different plant species, are very specific about which plants they lay eggs on and their larvae feed on.

For example: Monarch butterflies, one of the best known species in North America is well known for preferring the flowers of milkweed to pollinate and for the females to lay their eggs on. 

Swallowtail butterflies, the species type that the grove is named after are similar in that they prefer certain, but different plant species as their primary targets. For instance: Tiger Swallowtails are most attracted to Tulip Trees, some of which are planted in Swallowtail Grove. So by extension, by looking at a garden and the plant species included in the community you could make a guess at what species of butterfly you will come across. 

Insect and pollinator sanctuaries such as Swallowtail Grove are becoming more and more important as naturally occurring pollinator friendly habitats are being lost via pesticides and human impact. Pollinators are a very important part of our natural system and they will cease to persist if no habitat exists. Maintaining these pollinator gardens helps ensure the health of our local ecosystems.

So something to think about when your planning out your garden for next season. Select some of your plants based on pollinators. Big bright flowers will not only add colour to your garden but help attract the pollinators who improve the health and biodiversity of the whole community. A great way to improve your at home horticulture without having to add any new chemicals or techniques. Select some pollinator friendly plants and watch the success of your garden take flight.

My name is Chas and I am the summer student at Friends of the Coves in Wortley Village, Old South London. Over the next 11 weeks, I will be blogging about my experiences with FOTCSI. I will be posting weekly articles on the history, community and issues related to the Coves including helpful tips and suggestions on how you can have a positive impact on your own environment.