The City of Sanford has been certified as a Bee City USA® affiliate, a designation given to cities, towns, and counties that have committed to the conservation of native pollinators.
The Bee City USA program is an initiative of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. The program’s mission is to sustain native pollinators – like honey bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds – by providing them with a healthy habitat.
This designation is both an honor and a responsibility. The program endorses a set of commitments for creating sustainable habitats for pollinators by increasing the abundance of native plants, providing nest sites, and reducing the use of pesticides. City staff and community members work together to carry out these commitments and make their city a better place for all pollinators.
“The program aspires to make people more PC—pollinator conscious, that is,” says Scott Hoffman Black, Xerces’ executive director. “If lots of individuals and communities begin planting native, pesticide-free flowering trees, shrubs and perennials, it will create large-scale change for many, many species of pollinators.”
The City of Sanford Appearance Commission brought the idea of becoming an affiliate of Bee City USA to the City's attention, and the City Council adopted the resolution earlier this year.
The City of Sanford has demonstrated its commitment to local pollinators by establishing three hives at the Sanford Municipal Center, which are maintained by the City parks department with the guidance of award-winning Master Beekeeper Jody Moore.
The City of Sanford Appearance Commission will celebrate the Bee City USA designation on Thursday, October 19 at 5:30 p.m. on the grounds of the Sanford Municipal Center. Attendees will receive a seed packet to start their own pollinator garden.
For more information about the Bee City USA program, visit www.beecityusa.org or contact Liz Whitmore at 919-718-4657 x5393.