Newark declared a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat

From The Newark Post:

In 2001, biology teacher Bob McDowell planted a crabapple tree in Newark High School’s courtyard as a way to provide a hands-on lesson to his students.

The garden in the school’s former “smoking court” has grown in size ever since and now, almost the entire courtyard consists of trees, flowers, and other native plants.

“It’s my outdoor classroom,” McDowell said. “I take my kids out there every couple weeks.”

Newark High’s garden is one of 168 public and private spaces in Newark that have been declared by the National Wildlife Federation as a Certified Wildlife Habitat. To achieve that designation, a yard must provide four things for wildlife: food, water, cover and a place for animals to raise their young.

Enough Newarkers have been certified that the city itself is now a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat. Newark is the 78th city to be certified and the second in Delaware, after Townsend.

City officials gathered Oct. 9 at Phillips Park to celebrate the designation. NWF President Collin O’Mara, the former Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control secretary, was on hand to present the award.

“This makes a statement that even though we’re living in a city, we can live in harmony with nature,” O’Mara said. “It engages the community and helps beautify the community.”

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