OUR GOAL
Restore Our Roots has registered in the ‘Community Wildlife Habitat program(™) through the National Wildlife Federation. We’re working hand in hand with Downingtown Borough and the Downingtown Shade Tree Commission to bolster our work of restoring habitat, and recreate shared spaces for our wildlife friends, and certify our entire community as a Community Wildlife Habitat.
WHY ARE WE CERTIFYING?
We need habitat! Our wildlife friends and the pollinators that support our food chain are facing a number of threats. With a few thoughtful actions, we can do our part to help. Learn more with these helpful resources from the National Wildlife Federation:
- Habitat Loss – What are the major sources of habitat loss, and what can we do to help?
- Pesticides – Going organic and encouraging beneficial insects is a cleaner, greener way to manage garden pests.
- Lawn Fertilizers – By saying “no” to traditional lawn maintenance we can help create safer, healthier yards for our own families and for wildlife.
- Mosquito Sprays – They don’t just kill mosquitos. They’re harmful to our beneficial pollinators as well.
- Light Pollution – Outdoor lighting has a negative effect on bird migration, firefly mating, and nighttime pollinators like moths.
So, what can we do? Downingtown is fortunate to have various groups, businesses, and individuals all pulling on their boots and donning their gloves to create and preserve habitat. We hope that our efforts to get certified will help bring us all together, boost public awareness, and build a united community in our conservation work.
OUR PROGRESS
HOW YOU CAN HELP: Certify and Consultations
Every resident in our 19335 zip code can help. And if you’re not a Downingtown resident, we still say “Thank you!” Your habitat helps in the wider community.
First, create your own backyard habitat by providing 5 basic elements to support wildlife: Food, Water, Cover, Places to Raise Young, and Sustainability.
Next, certify your habitat. Every Downingtown resident who certifies will help ROR get our community certification. We need 150 Habitat Points with the help of native gardeners and wildlife stewards just like you.
Consultations
Interested in a consultation for your yard, business, school, or place of worship to become a certified wildlife habitat? Have no fear, reach out to us! Donations we welcome and will go towards our efforts to create more wildlife habitat in the Borough.
Step 1: Complete this online request form
Step 2: We should reply with a few days to schedule a visit. 1-2 from the ROR team will come out for about 20-40 mins to look over these criteria for your landscape and make recommendations for next steps.
Step 3: ROR will follow-up with an email summary of our suggestions and next steps!
RESOURCES
- National Wildlife Federation has a wealth of information available on their website. You can learn more at: https://www.nwf.org/Garden-for-Wildlife/About/Resources
- Ready to create habitat?
- Plant Lists. Here’s a curated list of powerhouse plants that are native right here in Chester County. This is a fun starting point for natives that you can add to your yard for spring, summer, and fall blooms.
- Water. Want to create a container water garden? Find tips here.
- Limited on space? Find tips here for container and patio gardening.
- Shrink the lawn! Here are some practical tips for converting that turfgrass into healthy pollinator and wildlife habitat.
OUR PARTNERS
A special THANK YOU to our dedicated partners who are all helping us to create a community of caring. We couldn’t do this without your support.
