We invite Ottawa residents to join us on a walk exploring different approaches we can use to re-wild urban residential spaces using examples of residential yards in Riverside Park South.

We will begin this tour by visiting the back yard of a home which is in the process of converting the majority of its turf grass into a diverse habitat for pollinators and native wildlife. We will discuss how to get started, the things to do (and not do) in May. We will move to the front yard and discuss the how’s of gardening in the city right-of-way (the city-owned portion of front yards) so that you can maximize that space for native habitat while remaining compliant with the new bylaw rules.

We will then walk around the neighbourhood to showcase the many ways neighbours are changing their yards to be more eco-friendly and resilient to a warming climate. Along the way, we will identify some common invasive species that you may find in your own yard and we'll share how best to remove them. Questions will be welcome throughout the walk.