New pollinator gardens are coming to these 12 Alabama state parks
Alabama State Park visitors will be able to enjoy 12 new pollinator gardens by next year.
Oak Mountain State Park opened the first garden during its annual Pollinator Festival on Friday. The pollinator garden is located near an area devastated by a 2021 tornado.
“Bees, birds, moths, bats and other pollinators have been in decline in many parts of the country due to habitat fragmentation, pollution and invasive species,” according to a news release from Alabama State Parks. “Pollinators need flowering plants and vegetation to live and forage for food, which the Alabama State Parks’ new pollinator gardens will supply.”
The following parks will also receive a pollinator garden:
- Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores
- Wind Creek State Park in Alexander City
- Lakepoint State Park in Eufaula
- DeSoto State Park in Fort Payne
- Joe Wheeler State Park in Rogersville
- Lake Guntersville State Park in Guntersville
- Cheaha State Park in Delta
- Chewacla State Park in Auburn
- Roland Cooper State Park in Camden
- Meaher State Park in Spanish Fort
- Lake Lurleen State Park in Coker
The gardens will be in full bloom by 2025. Six parks will include a story trail, “a children’s storybook experience within the pollinator garden,” according to the news release.
“Each pollinator garden allows educators to utilize interactive learning tools through our on-site Teacher Toolkits,” said Renee Raney, Alabama State Parks Chief of Interpretation and Education. “The kits paired with the pollinator garden trail experience provide opportunities beyond the park and into the classroom for students and educators.”
The Alabama Association of Resource, Conservation and Development (RC&D) Councils presented a $25,000 grant to fund 12 new pollinator gardens at Alabama State Parks on Friday during the Pollinator Festival at Oak Mountain State Park.(Contributed)
The Alabama Association of Resource, Conservation, and Development (RC&D) Councils presented a $25,000 grant to Alabama State Parks on Friday to fund the new gardens.
“These pollinator gardens are more than just something pretty to look at and enjoy,” said Greg Lein, the director of Alabama State Parks. “They also improve and enhance habitat for pollinators, and that has incredible ecological benefits for all Alabamians.”
For more information, go to the Alabama State Parks website.