By Parker Garlough

In a meeting on Monday June 10, the Pollinator Action Plan Advisory Committee presented a draft of their plan to support pollinators native to Somerville. The plan includes proposals for residential landowners, landscaping businesses, municipal entities, and schools. The meeting primarily focused on recommendations for homeowners.

Residents were invited to give input, which will be taken into account before the final version of the plan is released on July 8. This plan, when finalized, will be the culmination of about six months of efforts – the committee has been working since early 2024.

The committee used scientist-gathered and electronically crowdsourced data to find patterns in pollinator populations and pollinator-plant relationships in Somerville. 299 pollinator species were observed, including many types of bees, moths, butterflies, wasps, beetles, flies, and one species of hummingbird. The majority had increasing or stable populations, but several were decreasing.

Offshoots, Inc. owner Kate Kennen emphasized that plants native to this region are often the most beneficial, but other plants can also play a role in supporting pollinators. Some plants are visited by many different species of pollinators – for example, goldenrod supports 40% of recorded pollinator species in Somerville.

To support residents who want to create pollinator gardens, the committee made recipe cards that describe which plants grow well together. They noted that residents without the space for a garden plot may also participate –even pots containing a single plant can support pollinators. They also intend to encourage residents to decrease mowing frequency during the summer, allowing flowers to grow in their yards. Next year, they plan to introduce a No-Mow May initiative to support native bees emerging from hibernation.

One meeting attendee raised concerns about the lack of policy recommendations described by the committee at Monday’s meeting. The Action Plan goes into greater detail on changes the city could make to support pollinators.

Some relate to use of public land, such as existing parks. In addition, several ordinance changes are proposed, such as using zoning ordinances and the Green Score program to encourage native planting, reconsidering the overgrowth ordinance and potentially loosening it, and removing certain exceptions to the outdoor lightning ordinance in order to better reduce light pollution.

The Pollinator Action Plan also contains recommendations for other groups that have the capacity to support pollinators, including professional landscapers. It suggests that they refrain from raking, mowing, and cutting back perennials. In addition, they are encouraged to use composted leaf mulch rather than back mulch, and to leave some patches unmulched. The plan also recommends planting native plants in landscaped areas.

Libraries and schools are invited to pitch in as well: libraries, the Action Plan says, can create an annual display of pollinator resources and host educational events. Tufts is expected to continue its pollinator research and educational outreach. K-12 schools are recommended to plant pollinator habitat, then incorporate those spaces into their curriculum.

On July 8, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., the Advisory Committee will meet at City Hall to finalize the Action Plan.