Giving back to nature

Respecting nature's gifts: Give back to nature and let nature give back to you.

Giving back by enhancing local habitats

Plant some habitat in your outdoor space

Two young children in natural play area of Emily Carr ParkAttract and enjoy wildlife in your own backyard or balcony area. Create your unique Naturescape:

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Support community gardening

Gardeners tending to garden in Capital City Allotment GardensBy gardening in community, you can learn more about our seasons and what food plants need to grow well and meet like-minded people. You can share your knowledge with new gardeners.  

Learn more about community gardens in Saanich.

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Plant a tree on your property

New tree being planted into a hole with stakes for support and irrigation to water it being shownTrees provide so many benefits: from cooling our homes, slowing down heavy rains, cleaning the air, absorbing carbon, to providing habitat for birds and insects and more.

Check out some planting tips as well as learn about our Boulevard Partnership Tree Planting Program.

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Build homes for birds, bats and bees

The three main components of habitat are food, water and shelter. You can help support native animals by building them homes (shelter).

Native animals

Red Bellied Sapsucker woodpecker on the side of a tree near a hole it has madeDo you like bats and birds? Building a bird-house or bat-house is a great project to do by yourself or with family or friends. You’ll find some great information on habitats and simple designs for: Nestbox for SwallowsChickadees and Nuthatches or bats.  Also check out this information about protecting nestboxes from invasive birds

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Native pollinators

Wasp on a goldenrod plantBy adding pollinator friendly plants in your outdoor space, you are helping pollinators thrive by providing food and shelter throughout their active seasons. Embrace pollinator friendly practices and make a difference to the pollinators and the people that rely on them.

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Some more great resources on pollinators, as well as how to help our pollinator friends:

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Giving back by learning about nature

The more we learn about nature, the better prepared we are to give back to nature. There are lots of places to learn more about nature around us.Camas blooming at base of Garry Oaks at Playfair park

 "The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies"  Gertrude Jekyll

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Giving back by volunteering

Learn more about your natural surroundings and give back to nature by volunteering in Saanich parks!

 Volunteering in Haro Woods helping remove invasive plant species

 

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”  Helen Keller

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