Local students help design and plant new gardens at OPG’s Sir Adam Beck hydro stations
Just in time for the 100th anniversary of OPG’s Sir Adam Beck I Generating Station, newly rejuvenated gardens are brightening up the Sir Adam Beck Generating Complex in Niagara Falls while boosting biodiversity.
In June, the station headquarters along the Niagara River Parkway saw about 500 new plants plotted in the exterior garden area, with a mix of 13 diverse, pollinator-friendly species.
Lending a hand for the rejuvenation project were students and teachers from the local Westlane Secondary School. Teens from the school’s horticultural program helped design the new garden plan for OPG and even helped grow and care for the selected plants in a 2,000 square foot modern greenhouse.
On June 7, a group of 12 students and faculty joined OPG employees to help prepare and plant the garden beds.
“The students did a fantastic job of not only designing the perennial pollinator gardens, but also going above and beyond to grow and care for many of the plants themselves,” said Jacob Barbara, Site Environmental Advisor with OPG. “Moreover, collaboration on this project benefits not only OPG, but also supports Westlane’s Specialist High Skills Major Program in Horticulture.”
“These new plants not only look great, they will also support pollinators, like bees, to further improve biodiversity among plant species in the area.”Jacob Barbara, Site Environmental Advisor
The main driver of the project was to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the gardens for the enjoyment of visitors, residents, and employees, as well as to improve local plant biodiversity on-site, said Barbara.
“These new plants not only look great, they will also support pollinators, like bees, to further improve biodiversity among plant species in the area.”
With the planting a success, the project will be included in the current suite of ongoing environmental projects at OPG’s Niagara Operations, which will contribute to the group’s Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) recertification in 2024.
Recently, Niagara Operations was certified Gold by the WHC, a three-year designation that recognizes the outstanding environmental and biodiversity work taking place at OPG’s Niagara sites, which include the Sir Adam Beck and DeCew hydroelectric generating stations, as well as the Sir Adam Beck Pump Generating Station.
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