Local community makes a difference to protect wildlife

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF), America’s largest wildlife
conservation and education organization, is pleased that Tower Hill in Lewes, Delaware
has successfully created a Certified Wildlife Habitat® through its Garden for Wildlife™ program.
NWF celebrates this effort to create a garden that supports birds, butterflies, bees, frogs
and other local wildlife. Every Certified Wildlife Habitat Garden provides natural sources of
food, water, cover and places to raise young and is maintained in a sustainable way that
incorporates native plants, conserves water and doesn’t rely on pesticides.

Celebrating over 45 years, the Garden for Wildlife movement has recognized over 227,000
Certified Wildlife Habitat gardens across the United States to date, encompassing more
than 2.5 million acres that support wildlife locally. Backyards, urban gardens, school
grounds, businesses, places of worship, campuses, parks, farms, zoos and community
landscapes can all be recognized as wildlife habitats through the program.

“Anyone anywhere can restore wildlife habitat right in their own yards and communities,”
said NWF naturalist David Mizejewski. “Whether you garden in a suburban yard, an urban
area or a rural plot of land, you can make a difference for local wildlife. Creating a Certified
Wildlife Habitat Garden is fun, easy and makes a real difference for neighborhood wildlife.
It’s the perfect grassroots way to think globally and act locally and help birds, butterflies,
bees and other wildlife,” he added.

Tower Hill is a 292 new home community located on New Road in Lewes, Delaware and is
being developed by the Carl M. Freeman Companies. “Nearly half of Tower Hill is
designated green space, and so far, approximately 20 acres has been prepped and applied
with native seed mix. Pollinator-friendly meadows consisting of wildflowers and native
grasses are an unconventional alternative to typical turf grasses and offer meaningful
recreational and environmental benefits for residents to enjoy.” Said Smith Purdum, Senior
Land Development Manager for the Carl M. Freeman Companies. “Maintenance costs on
average are less as well, due to reduced mowing and significantly less watering to sustain
than grass sod. We’ve received a lot of guidance and encouragement from local specialists
and agencies so hope to share more as Tower Hill takes shape.”
Because of the owner’s conscientious planning, landscaping and sustainable gardening,
wildlife will find a quality habitat here which includes resources such as food, water,
cover, and places to raise their young.

Many of NWF’s state affiliate organizations are partners in the Garden for Wildlife
Movement. Habitats in partnering states have national and state certification.
Every Certified Wildlife Habitat garden is now also part of the Million Pollinator Garden
Challenge, a national effort to create a million gardens that provide habitat for declining
pollinator insects such butterflies and bees.

Participants who have their wildlife habitat garden certified receive a personalized
certificate with a unique habitat number, a one-year membership to NWF with a
subscription to National Wildlife magazine, a subscription to the Garden for Wildlife enewsletter, a 10 percent discount to National Wildlife catalog, and the exclusive right to
post a Certified Wildlife Habitat yard sign.

For more information on NWF’s Garden for Wildlife movement and how to qualify to
have a garden space recognized as a Certified Wildlife Habitat, visit
https://www.nwf.org/garden or call 1-800-822-9919.

For 76 years, Carl M. Freeman Companies has created places that enrich lives
through their innovative and inviting places to live, work, shop and play. The company
has developed and managed more than five million square feet of commercial space
for shopping center retail and office use, servicing more than 1.1 million square feet of
retail and building award-winning beachfront and golf course communities.