With the help of the Rosholt Fire Department and students from the Forestry Program at UW-Stevens Point, a burning of the CWEC Pollinator Prairie was conducted the morning of April 5. The burn was necessary as it was part of the Pollinator Prairie’s master plan of sustainability. A special burning permit was obtained.

Burning the Pollinator Prairie helps promote diversity and vigor of the plants in the garden. It helps to set back non-native cool season weeds and grasses. Burning also removes plant litter from the previous year’s growth and exposes the soil surface to the warming rays of the sun. This encourages new plant growth and increases flowering and seed production of native flowers and grasses.

The Pollinator Prairie is scheduled to be burned every other year to help create varying conditions from year to year, maintaining maximum plant and animal diversity.