Gray SeibertThe University of Kentucky’s Natural Resources and Environmental Science Club (NRES) and Horticulture Club removed invasive plants from a pollinator garden to provide a vital habitat for pollinators.
The workday included removing Johnson grass, Goldenrod and Chinese elm, then cutting back native plants next to the Barnhart Building on Friday, Nov. 14.
Alexandra Taylor, a sophomore double-majoring in agricultural and medical biotechnology and horticultural science, and vice president of the Horticulture Club, said she has been working in plant landscaping and habitat restoration for the past three years.
“This is a way for us as humans to be good stewards for our Earth,” Taylor said. “These plants are the reason that humans were able to survive. They supported pollinators, which supported crops for thousands of years.”
Milo White, a freshman natural resources and environmental science major, said he joined the club to help provide a healthy ecosystem for pollinators.
“Even though we are in the middle of the city, the environment is still all around us,” White said. “At its core, at its start, UK was an agriculture school, so I think it’s important to be able to see biodiversity, be able to see bits of nature, anything towards a green campus here to remind us that this is where we started.”
Rick Durham, professor of horticulture and advisor for the Horticulture Club, said he would like to see students help remove invasive species and restore more habitats on campus.
“South campus is undergoing a big transformation with new buildings, so we’re hopeful that there’ll be little punky gardens like this that we could install in other places,” Durham said.
The workday ended with the students and faculty mulching the garden where the invasive plants had been.
Kelsey Helton, sophomore natural resources and environmental science major, hopes that in the future there can be a group of students who come back to upkeep the gardens throughout the year.
“Even if you aren’t in an environmental field, you still benefit from the land,” Helton said. “Recycle, try to limit your usage of water and electricity, be conscious of the food you eat and where it comes from and go out and talk to people about the issues our people and planet face.”
You can find both the Horticulture Club and NRES Club on Instagram at @horticultureclub.uk and @nres.uky.
