A garden consisting entirely of plants attractive to pollinators was recently established at the Équi-Libre therapeutic riding center in Saint-Lazare, as part of a project to integrate native plants and fight against the disappearance of our endangered pollinators.

The garden is the fruit of a close collaboration between the David Suzuki Foundation’s Butterflyway Project and the Société d’horticulture et d’environnement de Saint-Lazare (SHESL), an initiative made possible thanks to the financial support of the Caisse Desjardins of Vaudreuil-Soulanges and Jolicoeur Savard Assurance.

The center offers equine assisted therapy, recreation, sports and learning programs to individuals with disabilities in the Montérégie area. In addition to preserving biodiversity and embellishing the site, the garden will also enhance specific programs offered by the center.

"Thanks to the garden, we can now include activities related to botany, gardening and the wonderful creatures that can be found in our gardens; activities which will benefit our clients’ social, emotional and physical wellbeing", expressed Interim Executive Director of the Équi-Libre therapeutic riding center, Kimberley Ayres.

Anyone interested in supporting pollinators and adopting environmentally-friendly gardening practices is encouraged to visit L'Effet papillon St- Lazare/ Vaudreuil/ Pincourt Facebook page and the SHESL website shesl.ca.