Sustainable Mowing: Renaturalizing Green Spaces in Lachine

Last updated May 1, 2024
Reading time: 1 min

The borough of Lachine is implementing a pilot project for the sustainable management of green spaces. Promoted around the world more and more, this is an environmentally-friendly approach to maintaining public lands in order to give nature free rein.

More space for nature 

The objective is to achieve ecological balance: to let wild life and plants live together naturally, in order to increase the presence of wild flowers, butterflies, pollinators, birds and small animals. The method consists of reducing horticultural and mowing practices on grassy plots (buffer zones) throughout the summer season. Constant, regular monitoring makes it possible to target the best times to carry out mowing and undergrowth clearing, if necessary, in order to limit the spread of invasive species in particular and define the pedestrian or play area. 

For this first year, three areas are being targeted: 

  • along rue Victoria, between 10e Avenue and rue George-V  
  • in Parc Grovehill, near 36e Avenue and rue Provost 
  • along the waterfront of Parc Stoney Point  

This helps reduce heat islands and increase air quality. It also helps cut down on the presence of undesirable species (dandelions, ragweed, etc.) and keep insect pests (white grubs) away. Taller grasses and wildflower species then eventually grow and improve the quality of the landscape. There are many advantages for our environment… and all with lower maintenance costs!

This pilot project is part of a vision of sound ecological management and corresponds to the guidelines established in Lachine’s strategic action plan for 2023-2028 as well as those of the Montréal 2030 strategic plan.

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