A new no-mow zone has been created behind the Student Centre, transforming a portion of grass into a vibrant space filled with native plants, creating essential habitat for pollinators, birds, small mammals, and insects. 

“These zones also provide natural services such as erosion control, rainwater absorption and reduced surface water runoff,” explains Gillian Johnson ’24 (Gzowski College), associate land stewardship coordinator at Trent University and graduate of the Environmental Science/Studies program and the Bioenvironmental Monitoring & Assessment graduate program. “This is especially important because we're right next to the Otonabee River.”

The new no-mow zone was created in partnership with Community Living Trent Highlands and supported with funding from a Grow Wild Grant from the World Wildlife Fund. Other no-mow zones on the Symons Campus include areas along East Bank Drive and beside G Lot.  

Initiatives such as creating no-mow zones are part of Trent’s University Green Network and contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

Watch the video to learn more about why no-mow zones matter for the environment and the Trent community.