Don’t like those overgrown berms in Bradford West Gwillimbury? Researcher using them to study pollinators

Researcher Alexandra Stinson in one of her test fields at the Muck Crops Research Station in the Holland Marsh. Jenni Dunning/BradfordToday

1 / 1 Researcher Alexandra Stinson in one of her test fields at the Muck Crops Research Station in the Holland Marsh. Jenni Dunning/BradfordToday

Holland Marsh researchers are opening their doors to the public this week to showcase their work and help local residents understand the importance of pollinators.

There will be ongoing tours and research displays this Friday at the Muck Crops Research Station in the marsh, just outside of Bradford West Gwillimbury.

“The goal of the outreach day is to share information about the importance of creating habitat for pollinators and natural enemies in agricultural systems and to highlight the major research activities (being done),” said Dillon Muldoon, a University of Guelph graduate student.

Muldoon will be giving tours of his project at some overgrown marsh berms — strips of land bordering the canal — where he is growing different types of plants to add to the ones already there, and then monitoring them to see whether they can attract more pollinators and natural enemy insects.

Last year, BWG council received a number of complaints about overgrown berms, and council voted to trim them on the Canal Road side and let them grow wild on the water side.

Despite the marsh’s expansive land area, Muldoon has said it does not provide a good habitat for “beneficial insects,” and he is hoping to improve that with his study, which is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Alexandra Stinson, another University of Guelph research student, will also be on-hand at the outreach event to share her research about carrot weevils and carrot rust flies, and to give tours of her test fields in the marsh.

She has been studying different insecticide treatments and experimenting with different times for planting to find a sustainable way to deal with agricultural pests.

Overall, there are about seven to 10 researchers will be at the outreach event to share their research with local residents.

There will also be a live bumblebee colony for visitors to check out, and the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority will also have information available about what it does.

The first 100 people to arrive will also get pollinator packs of native plant seed mix.

"We want to get the word out," Muldoon said. "We want to show (people) what we're doing and why it's important for the community."

GROWER AND PUBLIC OUTREACH DAY:

Friday, July 5

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Muck Crops Research Station, 1125 Woodchoppers Lane, Kettleby

Free event.

Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants if planning to take an outdoor tour.