HADLEY — A regionwide effort to protect and expand habitats for pollinators, especially bees and butterflies, could be coming to Hadley.
Representatives from the Western Mass Pollinators Networks are asking Hadley officials to sign on to a nonbinding resolution in which the town would voluntarily reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides on town land, maximize some properties for use by pollinators and encourage residents to protect these habitats.
John Root of Amherst told the Select Board that along with the resolution, one possibility for a habitat test plot would be on North Lane near the dike.
Under this scenario, a portion of the town-owned land might be mowed only once a year, which would encourage the growth of a variety of grasses, such as clove, violet and thyme.
Before signing on Select Board members said they wanted more details about how the advisory might affect farmers and landscaping companies.
Hadley resident David Moskin, who is the point person for the town effort, said he would be doing outreach, but believes it should have broad support from residents.
“The whole thing is designed to help the agricultural community, and everyone else, protect the food-chain and the environment,” Moskin said.
The resolution has also been brought to Amherst Town Council and officials in Pelham and Sunderland.
Plainfield and Cummington Town Meetings in 2017 adopted the language making them pollinator-friendly communities.
Root said Great Barrington has also passed the resolution and has seen success in creating pollinator pathways that are popular with wild bees.
In addition to reducing use of insecticides, the resolution suggests “planting more pollinator-supporting forage, “adopting organic or chemical-free lawn and landscaping practices” and “avoiding the planting of flowering plants that are treated with systemic insecticides.”
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
