Tuesday
October 3, 2023 
Bucks County Audubon Society, in partnership with Kevin Spencer, Bucks County director of operations, and representatives from local environmental advisory councils recently hosted a workshop on the benefits of meadow management for municipalities.
Over 80 government employees, local supervisors, and members of advisory councils and nonprofits attended the workshop on Feb. 20 at the Bucks County government administration building in Doylestown.
“Grassland birds are some of the most threatened bird species, due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and a changing climate. By simply changing from turf grass to native grasses and wildflowers, we can have a huge impact on our local bird and wildlife populations. We are excited to see how these municipal leaders use the information, and the many benefits that new meadows and grasslands can have in our community,” said Stacy Carr-Poole, executive director, Bucks County Audubon Society.
Presentations by preserve managers from the Natural Lands, natural resource managers from Bucks and neighboring municipalities, Gilmore and Associates civil engineers, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, and the Pa. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources demonstrated how to establish and manage meadows full of native warm or cool season grasses and wildflowers.
The meadows only need to be mowed up to a few times a year, and provide habitat for threatened grassland birds, like the bobolink, and for pollinators, speakers said.
Natural meadows also help with water management by absorbing stormwater runoff, slowing down flood waters, and filtering out pollutants. All these benefits help municipalities meet Department of Environmental Protection requirements for stormwater management.
To receive the resources shared in the workshop contact Bucks Audubon at 215-297-5880.
