Community Wildlife Habitat

Community Wildlife Habitat Initiative

The Lancaster Conservancy’s Community Wildlife Habitat initiative is a volunteer-led effort that works with local property owners and organizations to encourage planting native plants, trees, and gardens that reduce stormwater runoff while providing habitat and food for wildlife and pollinators. The Lancaster Conservancy, in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation, is committed to educating community members on the value of habitat gardening where they live, learn, play, work, and worship. Supporting spaces for wildlife to thrive is a community-wide effort!

If you are interested in having someone conduct a habitat site assessment on your property, please fill out the survey below.

ASSESSMENT INTEREST SURVEY

HABITAT RESOURCES

Birds, insects, and other animals need corridors of connected habitat to thrive.

Lancaster Conservancy protects and restores large tracts of natural lands, but we need our community to help create wildlife habitat in other places, especially in developed areas. The map below shows how Certified Wildlife Habitats in Lancaster County tend to align with impervious land cover, such as roads or parking lots. By creating wildlife habitat on your property or in your community, you help to create the habitat corridors that wildlife need to survive!

Community Wildlife Habitat™ is an initiative of the Lancaster Conservancy in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation. The indicated Certified Wildlife Habitats® are certified through National Wildlife Federation.

Protecting & Restoring Native Habitat

Lancaster Conservancy works to protect our region’s remaining natural lands and then care for them through special projects and ongoing maintenance that restores native habitats and manages invasive species.

Creating Habitat at Home

Creating native habitat can be done in a few simple steps that are good for the environment and have curb appeal.  You can start by planting several native plants each year, pulling out the invasive plants and strategically placing a tree in order to capture water.

Native plants are at the heart of a pollinator-friendly garden providing food and host plant benefits beyond what most non-native plants can offer in any landscape.  There are over 2,100 PA native plants of many colors, shapes and sizes attracting a variety of pollinators like bees, butterflies, beetles, and moths to perform their essential pollination services. Pollinators play a critical role in the reproduction of 90% of all flowering plants, and are involved in the production of about one out of every three bites of food that humans eat.

Native Plant List Native Plant SourcesUpcoming Habitat Advocate Classes

BENEFITS OF NATIVE PLANTS

• Critical to pollinators (birds, bees & other insects)
• More adaptable to area
• Requires less water for maintenance
• Absorption of water increases
• Keeps pollutants and sediment out of the water
• Increases wildlife habitat
• Increases air quality

RAIN GARDENS

Rain gardens are simple solutions to capture and retain stormwater close to the source, preventing polluted runoff. The average quarter acre lot (with a 2,500 square foot home) can contribute over 5,000 gallons of polluted runoff in a single 1 inch rainfall event.

BENEFITS OF RAIN GARDENS

• Manage the rain water where it falls allowing it time to infiltrate the earth
• Reduces localized flooding on property
• Plants, soil and microorganisms remove many types of pollution from water
• Are attractive landscape features that can add value to a home
• Provide important food and shelter for wildlife and pollinators
Sample Rain Garden PlanRain Garden Layout

Common Invasive Plants To Avoid

Many invasive plants were introduced as non-native ornamentals sold by nurseries for their beauty and hardiness. Even though these plants have escaped cultivation and are threatening native habitats, they are still available at garden centers in high demand. When non-native plants invade wild places, they dramatically reduce the available habitat for birds, insects, mammals, and amphibians which are specifically adapted to native plants for food and shelter.

Common InvasivesComplete List From DCNR

INVASIVE PLANTS

• Are not native to an area
• Spread quickly
• Little to no pollinator/wildlife value
• Cause economic harm
• Cause environmental harm
• Or may harm human health

Online Trainings

Learn from local and national experts how you can create habitat for wildlife, prevent stormwater run off, and heal the earth! These recordings are of online virtual lectures that are offered as part of the Conservancy’s ongoing Nature Hour series and Lancaster Water Week!

Habitat Advocate Classes and Certificate

Are you interested in learning about wildlife habitat for your property and community? Lancaster Conservancy is excited to offer a series of classes that will equip you with conservation landscaping tools; key solutions to solving our water, climate, and habitat crises.

Learn More & Register