McMaster University recognizes that the University and surrounding Hamilton area, including their nature spaces, are situated on traditional territories shared between the Haudenosaunee confederacy and Anishnaabe nations. These lands are protected by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum belt. The wampum uses the symbolism of a dish to represent the territory, and one spoon to represent that the people are to share the resources of the land and only take what they need.
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Nature @ McMaster

Native Pollinators

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McMaster Solitary/Native Bee Project

The Native Bees at McMaster project began in 2019 to support native bee species on campus. Each term students enrolled in SUSTAIN courses continue the work of their peers to further expand the project and achieve new goals with Facility Services team members. The project is run by the Academic Sustainability Programs Office, with support from Facility Services.

McMaster Solitary/Native Bee Project: Learn More + Donate

McMaster Bee Certified Campus

In February 2021 McMaster University became Canada’s 14th certified Bee Campus, as recognized by Bee City Canada. McMaster is working to protect and enhance pollinators on campus through the 5 objectives set out in the designation.

1. Adopt the Bee City Canada Resolutions

2. Maintain a Bee City Campus Pollinator Team

  • Currently comprised of members from Facility Services, Academic Sustainability Programs Office, and Department of Biology

3. Maintain a Pollinator Habitat Action Plan

4. Promote Education about Pollinators

5. Celebrate Pollinators

McMaster Bee Certified Campus: Learn More

McMaster School of the Arts/McMaster Outdoor Club Solitary Bee Boxes

In the fall of 2014 and 2017 students from the School of the Arts and the McMaster Outdoor Club worked to create solitary bee homes using recycled wood and other materials. The homes were installed on west campus by Parking Lot P (2014) and outside of the Dr. Robert and Andrée Rhéaume Fitzhenry Studios and Atrium (2017). The projects were generously funded by OPIRG McMaster.

Department of Biology Native Pollinator Garden

In the summer of 2018 a native pollinator garden was installed outside of the Life Sciences Building. Science students Katrina Cantera and Molly Bradford came up with the idea for the garden. The pollinator garden is home to native plants that attract a wide range of pollinators, including bees, butterflies, bats and moths. The garden contains 12 different species of native plants, such as serviceberry shrubs, butterfly weed, milkweed, cardinal flower and goldenrod. The garden was relocated in 2022 to the east side of the Ivor Wynne Centres High Performance Training Space.

McMaster University Campus Gardens

The McMaster University Campus contains about 5,000 trees, excluding woodland property, which means that there are about 0.004 trees per square metres! However, there is always room to improve. McMaster hopes to increase and improve upon the existing amount of green space. Our grounds are renowned for their excellence in horticultural displays, which is a favourite attribute mentioned by summer conference visitors. McMaster is truly a year round campus jewel.