Ahead of Earth Day on April 22, The Orchard Town Center has announced a new collaboration with Butterfly Pavilion, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, to create a pollinator habitat with a Flight and Flora Certification™. This partnership integrates conservation efforts with commercial real estate to support pollinator habitats. The Orchard Town Center’s management and leasing company, Vestar, and its owners, TriGate Capital, aspire to promote pollinator-friendly practices and foster community education about the vital role of pollinators.
The pollinator habitat at The Orchard Town Center will offer both environmental and educational benefits, creating a thriving habitat for pollinators, like bees and butterflies, while raising awareness about their essential contribution to ecosystems. The key components of the initiative include:
- Pollinator Walking Trail: Eight pollinator-focused garden beds will be installed along a designated walking trail at The Orchard Town Center. Butterfly Pavilion has designed informative signage for each bed, highlighting the importance of pollinators, their habitats and how the community can engage with the natural world using tools like the iNaturalist app.
- Native Plant Commitment: The Orchard Town Center will continue its dedication to using native plants in its landscape efforts. This commitment has grown substantially, with native plants now representing 50% of the landscaping in the Town Center area, up from 25% in 2024, helping to provide essential nutrition and habitat for pollinators.
- Ongoing Education: Butterfly Pavilion will lead native plant and pollinator training for Bright View, The Orchard Town Center’s landscape partner. Additionally, educational opportunities for community members will be provided, including engaging programs at The Orchard Town Center Kid’s Club, to teach future generations about pollinators and conservation.
- Regular Property Surveys: To monitor the success of these efforts, Butterfly Pavilion will conduct bi-annual surveys to track pollinator activity on-site. These surveys will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the design and improvements of the pollinator habitat there.
“Partnering with Butterfly Pavilion to create pollinator habitats and receive a Flight and Flora Certification™ at The Orchard Town Center is an exciting step for us,” said Kate Heckman, marketing director at Orchard Town Center. “This initiative allows us to further our commitment to sustainability, while also providing an opportunity to educate and inspire our community to protect the pollinators that are so vital to our environment. It also marks a first for Vestar, as we embrace this innovative approach to shopping center programming. Just as our tenant mix evolves, so too will our efforts in community engagement and sustainability.
Upon completion, The Orchard Town Center will receive the esteemed “Flight & Flora” Certification™ from Butterfly Pavilion, joining a growing network of pollinator habitats around the world. This certification acknowledges The Orchard Town Center’s commitment to pollinator conservation and its integration of sustainable practices across its development.
“At Butterfly Pavilion, we believe conservation is strongest when we work together, and we are proud to partner with Vestar – The Orchard Town Center to bring this vision to life,” said Nathalie Brochu, interim CEO at Butterfly Pavilion. “Through this collaboration, we’re extending conservation beyond our walls and into the heart of the community—creating a vibrant space where people can connect with nature. By designing a walking trail with pollinator gardens, educational signage and interactive elements like native bee houses, we’re not only enhancing habitat for vital pollinators but also inspiring the public to appreciate and protect these essential species. This project is about building a future where pollinators and people thrive together.”
