HOPKINTON — An Eagle Scout project that brought a pollinator garden to the MetroWest YMCA Family Outdoor Center on East Street has blossomed into a townwide project.
After dozens of volunteers put in hundreds of hours of work over the summer to create and maintain two additional pollinator gardens, Hopkinton town officials are hosting a recognition event on Sunday at the Hughes Farm property , where one of the gardens is located.
The event, which starts at 11 a.m., is open to all. The Hughes Farm property is at 192 Hayden Rowe St. (Route 85). Parking is limited.
The pollinator garden project was led by Shaurya Patni and his sister, Suhani Patni, both high school students. They’re expected to attend Sunday’s gathering, along with U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass .
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Shaurya Patni has had an interest in spreading awareness about the connection between the ecosystem and human health.
“When we eat local foods, it increases our natural immune defenses and leads to better health,” he said in a prepared statement. “Similarly, native pollinator species rely on the plants they evolved to exist with. They need the proper environment to thrive.”