Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Association has registered to become a Community Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation.  This program offers many bonuses for our neighborhood.  It will:

• Help residents to understand the benefits of gardening for wildlife and give them tools to do it.
• Encourage even greater community building.
• Increase plant diversity and the beauty of our neighborhood.
• Ensure that our neighborhood is a place where both wildlife and people thrive.
• Increase opportunities for children to connect with nature.

*Little known fact – about a dozen neighborhood properties are already individually certified as Wildlife Habitats, including the Belser Arboretum!

We will need at least 26 more neighbors to get their properties certified.  And to that end, we are having a launch celebration at the Belser Arboretum on Sunday May 17 between 1 and 4 PM with fun giveaways and lots of support for getting your yard certified as a Wildlife Habitat.  Bring yourself, bring your family and neighbors.  If you want a peek at what getting certified involves (it’s really pretty easy!), take a look at this checklist: https://www.nwf.org/-/media/PDFs/Garden-for-Wildlife/Certified-Wildlife-Habitat/NWF_Garden-Certification-Checklist.pdf

And then come with your questions and ideas! First 30 residents to commit to certifying their yards will get a Wildlife Habitat sign paid for by the neighborhood association – a $35 value.  You pay for your certification (only $25), and we’ll pay for the sign.  And the National Wildlife Federation is offering a 20% discount on the bundle this month!