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"Inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future." |
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Congratulations to Colchester for being the first town in Connecticut to register with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) to pursue certification as a Community Wildlife Habitat.
What is a Community Wildlife Habitat?
A Community Wildlife Habitat is a community that provides habitat for wildlife throughout the community—in individual backyards, on school grounds, businesses, places of worship, farms and in public areas such as parks, and community gardens. It is a place where the residents make it a priority to provide habitat for wildlife by providing the four basic elements that all wildlife need: food, water, cover and places to raise young.
“Today’s challenges to our natural world are outpacing wildlife’s natural ability to adapt. Global warming, the loss of habitats and the increasing disconnect of people from nature are creating a perfect storm of weakened natural systems, human-caused climatic disruptions and growing public apathy. National Wildlife’s Federations vision is to restore the balance of nature and protect wildlife for our children’s future.”
Why pursue certification as a Community Wildlife Habitat?
Colchester is a desirable community in which to live as evidenced daily by our family, neighbors, friends, townspeople and businesses that call Colchester home. Money Magazine acknowledged Colchester as the 57th of the Best Small Towns in U.S. (2005). We are surrounded by tremendous natural beauty including the Salmon and Jeremy Rivers, state forests and parks, Cohen Woodlands, lakes, ponds, streams, recreation sites, farms, and more. Did you know that Colchester’s location has the unusual distinction of straddling two
major watersheds of Connecticut which in turn both feed and impact Long Island Sound? The Connecticut River watershed, Eight Mile River, and the Thames River are serviced by Colchester’s runoff. Also, Colchester supplies much of the drinking water for the city of Norwich through the Deep River Reservoir.
Recognizing the importance and value of Colchester’s natural surroundings to the community, several residents came together to form the Wildlife Habitat Team to pursue the nationally-recognized Community Wildlife Habitat certification through the National Wildlife Federation. This pursuit is further affirmation that Colchester is a desirable and healthy community for people and the wildlife. It is important for our townspeople to know what we have, understand its importance on our community and beyond our boundaries, and serve as knowledgeable and caring stewards. Decisions each of us makes every day have an impact on our local environment and lives, and will affect the people and wildlife now and for future generations. It is also important for people of all ages to
rediscover and reconnect with nature for their good health, and especially children for their development. (see Additional Links for more details, and Activities to get children and you out in Nature below)
Our group’s endeavor has the endorsement of the Colchester Board of Selectmen, Colchester Conservation Commission, Colchester Land Trust, Colchester Garden Club, and Colchester Business Association (CBA) as partners. The four Colchester schools completed their property assessment and certification process to become School Wildlife Habitats in
June 2009. The Connecticut Forest and Park Association is an affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation and has agreed to assist in our certification pursuit. The Connecticut Audubon Society in Glastonbury has agreed to be a partner too. Our volunteer team has met with various local groups to share information with their membership for individual or collective participation, and will continue to do so in connection with this initiative. If you would like our team to meet with your group
(adults or children), please contact us through our email address below.
We hope you will take this journey with us towards achieving the Community Wildlife Habitat certification for Colchester, participating and learning along the way, and be good stewards of the land to continue to affirm that Colchester is a very special place to live.
Colchester Wildlife Habitat Team
What you can do?
1. Assess and certify your own property as a wildlife habitat through the National Wildlife Federation. To learn more and become certified as a NWF Individual Wildlife Habitat:
You may pick up a NWF application at the Cragin Memorial Library, follow the steps for self-assessment of your property, and mail the completed application with a payment of $15.00 to the NWF. For that fee there are numerous benefits you will receive including a monthly wildlife magazine. Or you may download a printable application at https://secure.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat/certify/page1.cfm. If you want to complete the application process online, the online fee has increased
to $20.00, and the same NWF benefits will be available. The property to be certified can be a home, apartment, townhouse, business, farm, schoolyard, place of worship, public space. Each property certified earns points towards the Wildlife Habitat Certification portion of our goal.
2. Become involved through attending educational events and community activities that are offered in support of the Colchester Community Wildlife Habitat certification process.
3. Learn more about nature, wildlife and the environment through the library, and internet links offered by this Colchester Community Wildlife Habitat website. Come to this site at least monthly to see the progress made towards certification as well as learn about upcoming activities through the Colchester Community Calendar, suggested activities you and your families can do together in nature, and additional informational web links.
4. Become a volunteer as an individual or through a partnering local organization or group for the Colchester Community Wildlife Habitat. Get involved in upcoming projects to continue to benefit our community, such as the demonstration butterfly garden.
5. If you have questions, comments, suggestions or want to help in some way, you may contact the Wildlife Habitat Team by email at mailto:Wildlife Habitat [colchesterwildlifehabitat@gmail.com]
Additional Links: |
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Importance of Nature for Children: |
Sustainable Gardening Practices: |
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Activities to get children and you into nature: |
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Any age: |
Outdoor Safety: |
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way to find many of the local, state and |
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national parks near you) |
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Age birth to 1 year: |
Age 6 years and above: |
Coming soon |
Take a Child Outside - Getting Started |
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Age 1 – 5 years |
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Coming soon |
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Please note that due to the size of the file, the map takes several moments to open
You can help by creating a NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat in your own yard
It's fun! Watching wildlife in action can be fun and relaxing for everyone. Your habitat may attract beautiful songbirds, butterflies, frogs, and other interesting wildlife for viewing from your very own window.
Curb appeal! Replacing grass lawns with native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees will increase the beauty of your property and provide a nurturing refuge for wildlife.
Bring wildlife home! Restoring habitats where commercial and residential development have degraded natural ecosystems can be your way of giving back to wildlife.
Eco-friendly! Gardening practices that help wildlife, like reducing the use of chemicals, conserving energy and water, and composting also help to improve air, water and soil quality.
Community! Gardening for wildlife can help you share your love of wildlife with your neighbors and help them get involved in creating a home for wildlife.
Assess your yard as a Wildlife Habitat to provide elements from each of the following areas:
Food Sources. For example: Native plants producing seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, nectar. Bird feeder is supplemental to natural sources
Water Sources. For example: Birdbath, pond, water garden, stream
Places for Cover. For example: Thicket, rockpile, birdhouse
Places to Raise Young. For example: Dense shrubs, vegetation, nesting box, pond
Sustainable Gardening and Good Environmental Practices: For example: Mulch, compost, rain garden, chemical-free fertilizer, follow Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, recycle, dispose of litter and cigarette butts properly, pick up your dog’s poop.
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