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The Marian Coffin Gardens by Lily

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My name is Lily Bielek and I am a 7th grader at NCCL School in Newark, DE. Our school is doing a project called The Big Give where each student is given fifty dollars and asked to make a difference with the money. Our goal is to do more than simply donate the money, but to try to make it grow, use it to purchase needed items, and to get others involved to help us. I want to make a difference in the environment.

According to The US Forest Service, “Native plants are the indigenous terrestrial and aquatic species that have evolved and occur naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, and habitat.” These plants have become integrated into their native habitat, and are even essential to certain animal species. For example, the native species Switchgrass supports 150+ animal species native to Delaware. Invasive plants are species that have been transported from their native habitats. They then take over native ecosystems and steal their nutrients. These plants give no positive benefits to the ecosystem. Native plant species have been helping us for decades, it is only natural that we pay them back.

Thousands of native animal species depend on native plants for habitat, food, and pollen. Without these resources native species have gone extinct. Invasive plants are transported to foreign lands and spread, destroying the natural balance of forests, meadows, and marshes, turning habitats into giant wastelands of green, with none of the benefits that native plants give.

A few years ago I was taught by a parent at my school about native plants. My class was able to remove invasive plants from a park near my school. During that class I realized I can create change. Ever since I have been inspired to do something more for our ecosystem.

I am partnering with the Marian Coffin Garden in Wilmington, DE. This garden has eye-catching architecture and beautiful sculptures. The garden was designed by Marian Coffin, a pioneering Landscape Architect in history. She was one of the four women who were enrolled from 1901-04 at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The garden that she designed at Gibraltar has pretty ornamental plants, a few native plants, but also a number of invasive plants that have affected the health of the garden. This garden has been thoughtfully taken care of for years, but with limited funds. The Wilmington government recently bought the garden, and it is now part of the Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Landbank to be restored. They believe this wonderful snippet of history is important to preserve, and so do I.

Through my GoFundMe I will buy native plants and resources to fix, and revive this beautiful garden and supply the garden with all the tools they need to keep the garden thriving for years.

Thank you in advance for your kindness and consideration. Any form of support will benefit the environment in many great ways.
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Donations 

  • Elaine Scott
    • $30
    • 9 mos
  • Darin Powell
    • $20
    • 9 mos
  • Emily Davis
    • $10
    • 9 mos
  • Anonymous
    • $10
    • 10 mos
  • Lori Moss
    • $50
    • 10 mos
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Organizer

Lily Bielek
Organizer
Newark, DE

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