Girl Scouts to help build pollinator garden at Shrewsbury’s Dean Park

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Girl Scouts to help build pollinator garden at Shrewsbury’s Dean Park
Drone photograph captured a view of part of Dean Park earlier this year. (Photo/Tami White)

SHREWSBURY – Dean Park in Shrewsbury is getting a new garden of pollinator-friendly plants thanks to a grant and the help of the local Girl Scout Troop 30993.

Shrewsbury Parks & Recreation’s Keep Shrewsbury Beautiful is a local chapter of the larger Keep Massachusetts Beautiful organization. They recently received a “Plant Something Bee-eautiful” Grant to help plant a new pollinator garden.

These grants, worth $250, specifically support the planting of pollinator-friendly plants and trees in public spaces. 

Shrewsbury Superintendent of Public Facilities and Parks Angela Snell recently met with members of Troop 30993 to tell them about the grant. 

“I look forward to working with the troop to plant new pollinator plants this spring which will help Keep Shrewsbury Beautiful,” she said. 

The Troop, under the guidance of Colleen Corbett, already began working on their pollinator garden earlier this year. They collaborated with Missy Hollenback of the Worcester Environmental Community Agricultural Network and will work with Hollenback further as they select plants for the project.

Outside of Shrewsbury, Keep Massachusetts Beautiful has distributed nine other grants this year after receiving 24 applications. 

Locally, Marlborough was one of those other winners as it will soon add a similar pollinator garden at Ghiloni Park. Conservation Commission member Karin Paquin helped coordinate the city’s application.

“Native bees are on the decline, and our current urban and suburban landscaping practices are eliminating many native plants that support our native bee populations,” Conservation Officer Priscilla Ryder wrote in a letter to the City Council helping announce that grant win.

“This demonstration garden will help to educate the public about what plants to add to their own landscapes to help support native bees,” the letter continued.

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