Hopewell Township, Mercer County, NJ - The National Wildlife Federation (NWF), America's largest wildlife conservation and education organization, is pleased that the Hopewell Township Municipal Building and Woolsey Park have been officially named Certified Wildlife Habitats through the Garden for Wildlife movement.
"We are proud to announce that Hopewell Township has been recognized by the National Wildlife Federation as a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat," said Mayor Peters-Manning. "This designation not only reflects the hard work and commitment of our Environmental Commission, Township staff, and community partners, but it also highlights the importance of protecting pollinators and wildlife that are vital to our ecosystem. By creating and preserving these natural spaces, we are investing in a healthier environment and a stronger, more sustainable community for generations to come."
NWF celebrates this effort to create a garden that supports birds, butterflies, bees, frogs, and other local wildlife. Every Certified Wildlife Habitat garden provides natural sources of food, water, cover, and places to raise young. These habitats are maintained in a sustainable way that incorporates native plants, conserves water, and doesn't rely on pesticides.
Started in 1973, the Garden for Wildlife movement is the nation's oldest and largest native plant/habitat program, recognizing over 300,000 Certified Wildlife Habitat gardens across North America and at 39 embassies worldwide, encompassing an estimated 4 million acres that support wildlife locally. Backyards, urban gardens, school grounds, businesses, places of worship, campuses, parks, farms, zoos, and community landscapes are recognized as wildlife habitats through the program.
The Hopewell Township Municipal Building and Woolsey Park were officially named Certified Wildlife Habitats after creating a garden plot and planting over fifty different types of native plant species. At the Municipal Building, a native plant garden was first established in fall 2022 by Environmental Commission member and Hopewell Valley Gardens for Wildlife volunteer Andrew Plunkett. At Woolsey Park, 50 native plants were installed around the historic Salem Oak Tree, a project that has since doubled in size thanks to the efforts of Plant & Learn Workshop participants and community volunteers. The plantings include a diverse mix of species—such as foxglove beardtongue, clustered mountain mint, purple coneflower, little bluestem, purple lovegrass, yellow wild indigo, butterflyweed, sideoats grama, anise hyssop, blazing star, slender mountain mint, and hyssop-leaved boneset—that provide vital food and habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. The Woolsey Park garden is managed by Environmental Commission member and Hopewell Valley Gardens for Wildlife volunteer Jeanne DeMoss, who is completing her Rutgers Environmental Stewards Program internship through this project.
"These projects show our continuous commitment towards protecting our environmentally rich surroundings. This is a testament of when we work together, we can make meaningful strides towards sustainability and conservation right here in our own community," said Committee Member Purandare.
Every Certified Wildlife Habitat garden is now also a part of the Million Pollinator Challenge, a national effort to create a million gardens that provide habitat for declining pollinator insects, such as butterflies and bees.
“Anyone anywhere can restore a wildlife habitat right in their own yards and communities,” said NWF Naturalist David Mizejewski. “Creating a Certified Wildlife Habitat garden is fun, easy, and can make a difference for local wildlife.”
Participants who have their wildlife habitat garden certified receive a personalized certificate with a unique habitat number, a one-year membership to NWF with a subscription to National Wildlife magazine, a subscription to the Garden for Wildlife e-newsletter, a ten percent discount to the National Wildlife catalog, and the exclusive right to post a Certified Wildlife Habitat yard sign.
About National Wildlife Federation
The National Wildlife Federation is America’s largest conservation organization, uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. For more information on NWF’s Garden for Wildlife movement and how to qualify to have a garden space recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat, visit www.nwf.org/garden or call 1-800-822-9919. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.