Protecting the pollinators: Bees, butterflies and birds were the focus at the Garden at St. Francis Episcopal Church

A healthy garden relies on many things, among them sunlight, proper irrigation, regular weed removal, and human upkeep.

But unbeknown to many, the key to the success of natural food sources is simple: pollinators. Threats to the environment and the habitats of bees, butterflies and even birds — earth’s pollinators — can put gardens at risk.

Volunteers at the Garden at St. Francis Episcopal Church in North Bellmore hope not only to help protect local pollinators, but also to make an impact by educating the community about their importance, and creating an environment that allows them to thrive.

On the heels of the garden’s Pollinator Week, which wrapped up last Saturday, St. Francis’s garden manager, Kristin Talbot, told the Herald that the mission to protect pollinators is part of a national movement.

“Pollinator Partnership is a national organization, built by people who are trying to spread resources and knowledge about pollinators, to people who are just living in their neighborhoods that are interested in protecting pollinators, farmers like us, (and) people who are turning to land management and have acres and acres in preservation,” Talbot explained. “They’re a really great resource.”