Community Profile

Pledge Status

Complete

Pledge Date

Friday, March 3, 2023

Program Year

2023

Achievement

2023

Links and Uploads

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Action Item Report

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Town of Southampton

Southampton, MA

Christine Fowles

Select Board Chair

Pledge Summary

Southampton is a small, rural town of approximately 6,200 people in Western Massachusetts that is actively committed to preserving its open space and conservation areas. Residents value the town’s agricultural heritage, its scenic areas and hiking trails. Community groups are supporting the Select Board’s signing of the Pledge and will expand their efforts to create conditions favorable to the monarch butterfly and other pollinators.

Community Spotlight

Pallet Garden

Members of the Scouts and Congregational Church preparing a pollinator pallet garden for empty hillside. They successfully grew flowers, herbs and vegetables to supplement the offerings of the community cupboard that serves families from four towns.

Filling the Pallets

Scouts at work preparing the pallets for seedlings.

Herbs and flowers

Some of the initial results

Flowers in bloom

These annuals bordered the church parking lot and attracted bees and butterflies.

Invasives--Wanted Posters

Through the efforts of the Conservation Commission-posters developed for posting at various town-owned woodland/trail properties as an educational initiative. These were also on display at the annual town picnic event in August.

Colorful Butterflies

Students from the elementary school participated in this coloring event and this art was displayed at Celebrate Southampton, the town's annual picnic and activity event in the local park.

Action Items Committed for 2023

Communications and Convening ▸

Issue a proclamation to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat. This proclamation must incorporate a focus on monarch conservation.
Engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants.

Program and Demonstration Gardens ▸

Launch, expand, or continue an invasive species removal program that will support the re-establishment of native habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators.
Convert vacant lots to monarch habitat.
Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
Host or support a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap.

Systems Change ▸

Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans.

Past Pledge Archive

Mayor Name	Program Year	Pledge Date	Achievement
Select Board Chair Christine Fowles	2024	3/30/2024		View Pledge
Select Board Chair Christine Fowles	2023	3/3/2023	Signatories	View Pledge
Select Board Chair Christine Fowles	2022	4/6/2022	Signatories	View Pledge
Chair, Selectboard Maureen Groden	2021	4/18/2021	Signatories	View Pledge