Design a Backyard Pollinators Love
Join landscape designer and native habitat advocate Bob Barrett of Wild Bird DesignScapes for an evening workshop on creating backyard gardens that support pollinators, native birds, and ecological biodiversity. Hosted in partnership with the Willistown Conservation Trust as part of #WildflowerWeek 2026.
Workshop Curriculum
What You Will Learn
Top 10 Native Plants for Pollinators
The highest-impact species for Eastern PA — from native oaks and serviceberry to Ironweed and Bee Balm.
How to Attract Ruby-throated Hummingbirds
Plant combinations, bloom timing, and garden structure that bring hummingbirds back year after year.
Removing Invasives Without Chemicals
Practical, family-safe methods for eliminating English ivy, burning bush, and Japanese barberry.
Design for Any Yard Size
Whether you have a postage-stamp lot or a half-acre, every landscape can become a functioning habitat.
Reading Your Site
Sun, shade, soil, drainage — how to assess your conditions and choose plants that will thrive without babysitting.
Year-Round Habitat Value
Design for four seasons: spring ephemerals, summer nectar, fall seeds, and winter structure for overwintering birds.
Evening Schedule
April 29, 2026
Doors Open & Welcome
Arrive, browse the native plant display, and connect with fellow habitat gardeners.
Introduction & AEAA Framework
Bob Barrett opens with the Awareness–Education–Awe–Action framework that guides every WBDS design.
Design Principles for Pollinator Gardens
Layer-by-layer habitat design: keystone plants, bloom succession, native grasses, and structural diversity.
Live Case Studies
Before-and-after transformations from real WBDS projects across the Western Main Line and Chester County.
Q&A & Plant Recommendations
Open discussion — bring your toughest site challenges. Bob will recommend specific native plants for your conditions.
Reception & Resource Table
Browse the native plant resource list, Doug Tallamy book recommendations, and WBDS design portfolio.
Your Workshop Leader
Bob Barrett
Founder, Wild Bird DesignScapes · Landscape Designer · Native Habitat Advocate
Bob Barrett is a self-taught landscape designer and lifelong birdwatcher from the Western Main Line. He founded Wild Bird DesignScapes to help homeowners transform conventional landscapes into functioning native habitats — one yard at a time.
A devoted student of ecologist Doug Tallamy, Bob structures his approach around the AEAA framework: Awareness, Education, Awe, and Action. His designs emphasize keystone native plants, ecological layering, and the deep connection between native insects, birds, and the landscapes we steward.
Bob played college basketball at Rowan University and later lived in Milan, Italy, where time spent in the Boboli and Bardini Gardens in Florence shaped his eye for design, proportion, and the relationship between structure and living material.
Tickets
Reserve Your Seat
Adult
$35
General admission for adults. Includes the full workshop, Q&A session, and resource table.
Register on QgivChild
$20
For children attending with a parent or guardian. All ages welcome — nature education starts young.
Register on QgivRegistration is handled securely through Qgiv. Proceeds support WBDS educational programming and the Willistown Conservation Trust.
Common Questions
FAQ
Is this event appropriate for beginners?
Do I need to bring anything?
Is the venue accessible?
Can children attend?
Will there be plants for sale?
Questions?
Get in Touch
Have a question about the workshop, venue, or content? Send us a message and Bob will get back to you directly.