They’ve done it! It’s official. Atlantic Highlands is now qualified as a Certified Wildlife Habitat. And if the truth be known, it was the majority of council who helped get the goal of Wild About Atlantic Highlands over the top!
Local environmentalist and former librarian Marilyn Scherfen spoke at last week’s meeting of the Mayor and Council, urging all persons who love gardens and the town to visit the National Wildlife Federation website to learn more about what it takes to have a yard, garden, apartment roof top, kitchen deck or many other sites certified as a Wildlife Habitat. She pointed out that there are currently 90 sites already registered in the borough, and reaching 100 is all the Wild About Atlantic Highlands team needs to have the town itself certified.
Councilwoman Eileen Cusick had already registered her garden, she said, and added she was urging her neighbors, friends “and everybody else in Atlantic Highlands ” do to the same. Cusick spoke at the council meeting about the ease of having an outdoor piece of land certified and also expressed the hope the goal of 100 residences could be reached in April.
Some members of council took her up on it, checked out what was needed, found their properties included and exceeded the necessary standards and immediately filed the $20 and the paperwork to have their gardens certified.
“But we’re not stopping here,” an enthusiastic team of Elaine Egidio and Scherfen said after an event Sunday focusing on native plants and held at the Arts Council. “We have the 100 we need for certification, coupled with the other requirements we also had to meet to ensure certification. Our aim was to have the borough certified in time for Earth Day this month. We’ve done it, thanks to everybody and we’re delighted.”
Scherfen said there were a dozen or so sites in the borough that were already certified before the Wild about Atlantic Highlands group formed and became active just over a year ago, March 6, 2022. By March 31, last week, after council members signed up, they were at 99 members. Then by April 1, two other residents also telephoned in their news, and the goal was met to celebrate the beginning of April in style.
“We will have some kind of formal announcement and some celebration over this achievement,” Scherfen said, “but for now, we just want to invite more residents to join this idea of gardening for wildlife, providing all that is needed for birds and butterflies to survive and help keep the borough looking beautiful.”
Noting that gardening for wildlife does make a difference, Egidio pointed out that by adding native plants, water and shelter for birds to lay eggs and stay safe, any garden or outdoor space can be transformed into a welcoming place for birds and butterflies. Since the borough’s natural landscape is composed of wildflowers, shrubs, trees and native plants that provide habitat for wildlife, a wildlife habitat can make a lasting difference by providing resources and helping wildlife survive, thrive and reproduce during a time of declining wildlife.
Anyone interested in finding out more about certification can contact visit http://www.nwf.org/
