The Bluebell Trail at Bull Run Regional Park, Manassas, Va.
Sometimes battlefield preservation is for the birds. And the bees. And the butterflies! Safeguarding historic landscapes and carefully managing them can make meaningful contributions to the restoration of vital wildlife habitats, aiding species of pollinators facing dramatic decline.
What Does it Mean to Be a Good Land Steward?
As the caretaker of thousands of acres of historically significant land, the American Battlefield Trust understands that conservation extends beyond preserving the past: it is also about safeguarding the future. Good stewardship means actively protecting and improving these sites in multiple ways, not just through trail work and interpretation to make them accessible and educational. We also have a serious responsibility to protect the health of these natural resources, including the flora and fauna that depend on these lands.
We implement sustainable practices that benefit both the historical value of the land and the ecological systems it supports. Setting aside battlefields and ensuring they remain undeveloped inherently protects and restores habitats, particularly forests, grasslands, wetlands and riparian buffers. This improves water quality and provides clean air, while also playing an important role in carbon sequestration (reducing carbon dioxide).
Further, we engage in invasive species management to prevent the spread of non-native plants that threaten biodiversity. Not only does this create a plant mix more akin to what the soldiers who fought there would have seen, it attracts the animals they would have recognized as well.
How Does the Trust Improve Pollinator Habitat?
Pollinators — such as bees, butterflies and other insects — are essential to the health of our ecosystems. Yet, their populations are in severe decline across the country due to the spread of invasive species, climate change and habitat loss — due to development, farming and natural land succession.
Thanks to the Trust’s preservation work, our hallowed grounds have become a remaining space where they can thrive. The Trust actively works to improve and expand pollinator habitats on preserved battlefield lands, ranging from grassland prairies to agricultural lands, by providing critical nesting and feeding grounds for pollinators. Our approach includes:
Restoring Critical Habitats
Grasslands, wetlands, and riparian buffers all support pollinators at every stage of life. These habitats also improve water quality, sequester carbon, and provide essential wildlife corridors.
Planting Native Wildflowers
Native wildflowers and other species provide food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. These plantings are carefully selected to provide a continuous bloom from spring to fall, ensuring that pollinators have access to resources year-round.
The availability of native plants is a key factor in sustaining healthy pollinator populations — and making the battlefields look like what the soldiers would have experienced! Native plants support a greater abundance and diversity of pollinators than non-native species because they co-evolved over millennia, developing specialized relationships that are essential for their mutual survival. These plants provide not just nectar and pollen, but also crucial shelter and nesting sites
Educating and Engaging Communities
Public engagement is a key component of our stewardship efforts. We train our volunteers, partners, and staff on how and why we restore ecosystems. Our hope is to not only enhance our land, but to empower other landowners to make similar improvements on their own properties.
Promoting Sustainable Land Management
In addition to our direct efforts on the land we manage, the Trust works with land managers and farmers to implement more sustainable agricultural practices including invasive species management, conservation of space for pollinator habitat, and delay of hay operations to protect ground-nesting birds and allow their young to fledge.
How Can You Improve Pollinator Habitats?
Volunteer with the Trust and its partners! Do you live or work near a battlefield? The Trust hosts many volunteer opportunities across the country aimed at restoring critical habitats for pollinators and other wildlife, as do many other park management groups. All year round, dedicated volunteers join with friends' groups, Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners, park staff, and even the Virginia State Police come together to engage in important (and satisfying) volunteer work.
You can also take action in your own community, far away from any battlefields, by removing invasive species that outcompete and displace native plants, and creating space for native plants to return. To get started, reach out to local resources like extension agencies or conservation groups. They can help you identify both invasive and native plants on your land, and provide guidance on safe, effective control methods.
Planting (locally sourced) native flowers, shrubs and trees instead will provide the food and shelter that pollinators need. It’s important to note that while most adult pollinators are generalists — visiting a variety of flowers to drink nectar — their eggs and larvae may rely on a specific host for survival, making those native species critical. Take the monarch butterfly: adults feed from many flower types, but their caterpillars can only develop on milkweed!
You may also want to consider reducing or eliminating the use of chemical pesticides, which can harm pollinators. Instead, opt for organic or integrated pest management strategies.
Ready to Get Started? Turn Fallen Trees into Pollinator Habitat!
Removing fallen trees can be costly—but with a little strategic intention, you can turn snags and downed logs into thriving ecosystems. Remove invasive plants surrounding the log and add native bushes and wildflowers that support birds and pollinators. It will look beautiful and provide ecosystem benefits. Here are some tips:
1. Location Matters
Decide whether the fallen tree or snag is in a suitable location.
If it's in an open meadow, leave it! Downed trees in natural spaces create microhabitats that support pollinators, fungi, birds, and other wildlife. However, if the tree is blocking a trail or in a parking area, you may need to move it to a more appropriate spot.
2. Prep the Site
Before planting, remove invasive weeds from around the downed tree. Note that this step is crucial but can take time — perhaps up to a year to ensure that invasive plants will not recur and take over your new pollinator habitat.
- Hand pull manageable weeds, taking care to get the roots out, as most invasive plants resprout from remnant roots. If you cannot get the roots out, try a different method.
- Only use herbicide if you're a trained pesticide applicator and you know exactly what you are doing. Remember: we are trying to help pollinators and many pesticides can hurt them).
- Smother the site by cutting the vegetation low, covering with newspaper or cardboard and then a layer of topsoil.
3. Seeds or Seedlings?
Which plant type to pick? Both have benefits, so consider your unique situation.
- Seedlings: Best planted in spring. Just be ready to monitor them during dry spells and water as needed.
- Seeds: Spring seed-sowing usually ends by early April but, if you miss your window, you can start prepping for fall planting throughout the summer. In fall, you can sow seeds directly into prepared soil. Gently rake them in and cover with straw or leaf litter.
4. Find Native Plant Sales
One of the best ways to ensure you're getting true native species is to buy from local plant sales, since big-box garden centers often lack native options. Spring is the prime time! Look for sales hosted by local garden clubs, native plant societies, or conservation groups.
5. Plan for the Long Game
Pollinator habitat takes time and commitment. So, make a plan, work in small phases, and add to it each year. Soon your pollinator habitat will be a living, evolving ecosystem — an investment in biodiversity and beauty for years to come. Expect to:
- Weed frequently
- Adjust plantings as needed
- Monitor progress through the seasons
Every acre we preserve is a chance to honor history and restore the land. By caring for these hallowed landscapes, we ensure they remain meaningful, vibrant, and viable for generations to come.
