Matthews Naturally is a community-wide initiative that certified the Town of Matthews as a Community Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation in 2013.
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Just in case you didn't know, in 2013, Matthews became the 64th Community Wildlife Habitat in the United States. That was a HUGE accomplishment for HAWK and for the Town of Matthews. BUT... just because we earned the certification doesn't mean we're finished! Each year we have to recertify. One way we do that is by getting more certifications: more homes, more schools, more places of worship, more public places, more businesses.
As part of HAWK's big 10th anniversary celebration, we set a lofty goal of getting 50 new certifications. A big HAWK thank you to Renfrow Garden, Covenant Day School, Conbraco Industries and Cross and Crown Lutheran for their recent certifications. (Cross and Crown is the very first place of worship to be certified.)
Every wildlife habitat requires the same things: food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable gardening practices. After providing those things, you certify by going to www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife. There is a $20 certification fee. We also encourage you to spend an additional $30 to purchase a sign for your yard. Great for educating your neighbors!
How about you? Could you certify your home/business/school/place of worship? It will enrich your life and the wildlife will thank you for it! If you have questions, or would like a presentation to a group on creating wildlife habitats, send a request to [email protected]
As part of HAWK's big 10th anniversary celebration, we set a lofty goal of getting 50 new certifications. A big HAWK thank you to Renfrow Garden, Covenant Day School, Conbraco Industries and Cross and Crown Lutheran for their recent certifications. (Cross and Crown is the very first place of worship to be certified.)
Every wildlife habitat requires the same things: food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable gardening practices. After providing those things, you certify by going to www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife. There is a $20 certification fee. We also encourage you to spend an additional $30 to purchase a sign for your yard. Great for educating your neighbors!
How about you? Could you certify your home/business/school/place of worship? It will enrich your life and the wildlife will thank you for it! If you have questions, or would like a presentation to a group on creating wildlife habitats, send a request to [email protected]
To receive this certification, the residents of the Town of Matthews provide wildlife habitats throughout the community in backyards, on school grounds, and in public areas such as parks and community gardens, in businesses and in places of worship.
FIVE EASY WAYS TO CREATE A WILDLIFE-FRIENDLY GARDEN
PROVIDE FOOD FOR WILDLIFE
Everyone needs to eat! Planting native forbs, shrubs and trees is the easiest way to provide the foliage, nectar, pollen, berries, seeds and nuts that many species of wildlife require to survive and thrive. Adding feeders is also a great way to provide food for the birds.
Everyone needs to eat! Planting native forbs, shrubs and trees is the easiest way to provide the foliage, nectar, pollen, berries, seeds and nuts that many species of wildlife require to survive and thrive. Adding feeders is also a great way to provide food for the birds.
FRESH WATER FOR WILDLIFE
Wildlife need clean water sources for many purposes, including drinking, bathing and reproduction. Water sources many include natural features such as ponds, lakes, rivers, springs, oceans and wetlands; or man-made features such as bird baths, puddling areas for butterflies, installed ponds or rain gardens.
Wildlife need clean water sources for many purposes, including drinking, bathing and reproduction. Water sources many include natural features such as ponds, lakes, rivers, springs, oceans and wetlands; or man-made features such as bird baths, puddling areas for butterflies, installed ponds or rain gardens.
CREATE COVER FOR WILDLIFE
Wildlife require places to hide in order to feel safe from people, predators and inclement weather. Use things like native vegetation, shrubs, thickets and brush piles or even dead trees.
Wildlife require places to hide in order to feel safe from people, predators and inclement weather. Use things like native vegetation, shrubs, thickets and brush piles or even dead trees.
GIVE WILDLIFE A PLACE TO RAISE THEIR YOUNG
Wildlife need a sheltered place to raise their offspring. Many places for cover can double as locations where wildlife can raise young, from wildflower meadows and native bushes where many butterflies and moths lay their eggs, to caves where bats roost and form colonies.
Wildlife need a sheltered place to raise their offspring. Many places for cover can double as locations where wildlife can raise young, from wildflower meadows and native bushes where many butterflies and moths lay their eggs, to caves where bats roost and form colonies.
LET YOUR GARDEN GO GREEN
How you maintain your garden or landscape can have an important effect on the health of the soil, air, water and habitat for native wildlife--as well as the human community nearby. Reducing chemical use, composting, mulching and reducing turf grass in your yard are important steps to gardening greener.
How you maintain your garden or landscape can have an important effect on the health of the soil, air, water and habitat for native wildlife--as well as the human community nearby. Reducing chemical use, composting, mulching and reducing turf grass in your yard are important steps to gardening greener.
AND THEN...........GET CERTIFIED!!
Once you have all the elements of a Wildlife Habitat in place in your backyard, go to the National Wildlife Federation website and register your property as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat. You can join the hundreds of people in Matthews (and hundreds of thousands in the USA!) who have already provided a safe haven for wildlife. You can also order a sign to place in your yard to proudly proclaim your work for wildlife and help educate others about the need to create habitat in Matthews. ....and beyond!
Once you have all the elements of a Wildlife Habitat in place in your backyard, go to the National Wildlife Federation website and register your property as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat. You can join the hundreds of people in Matthews (and hundreds of thousands in the USA!) who have already provided a safe haven for wildlife. You can also order a sign to place in your yard to proudly proclaim your work for wildlife and help educate others about the need to create habitat in Matthews. ....and beyond!
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