Photos by Carly Brockinton — Prince George’s County Planning Department
Bowie — Two years after Bowie was certified as a National Wildlife Federation Certified Community Wildlife Habitat, the community has not stopped promoting its efforts to reverse the loss of wildlife habitat and promote the use of green spaces.
Certified through the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), areas must provide food, water, cover, and nesting boxes; they must also use sustainable practices. The certification costs $20 and comes with an official sign.
And the areas are not just attracting butterflies and pollinators. Residents were out enjoying nature last week as the buds were blooming. The Bowie Gold softball team was on the field at Allen Pond Park as part of the Baltimore Beltway Senior Softball League. More green spaces, like Allen Pond Park, are part of what residents told planners they wanted in 2016.
The NWF certification came the same year that the City of Bowie released its Sustainability Plan that included plans to improve the environment for natural resources and increase public gathering space. The plan states, “To try to give birds, butterflies, and other wildlife in Bowie a reprieve from the stress of habitat fragmentation and degradation, the City joined NWF’s program in 2009.”
As part of the promotion of its community certification (which includes backyards, community sites, and schools), Bowie Gardens 4 Wildlife hosts an annual backyard habitat tour to display a variety of options for your own backyard.
Learn more about creating your own wildlife habitat with this brochure, and certify your habitat here.
