Ecotarium’s Native Meadow
Chestnut Hill Garden Club, Zone I
2001 Founders Fund Winner
The EcoTarium traces its history back to the founding of the Worcester Lyceum of Natural History in 1825 as an organization to foster an appreciation and understanding of the natural world. In the late 1990s EcoTarium expanded its space and grounds and focused on creating indoor and outdoor natural science exhibits for hands-on exploration and discovery specifically for school children in grades K-12.
The 2001 Founders Fund Award established a twoacre native New England meadow environment along a winding trail past the River Otter Habitat. Butterflies, birds, bugs and all kinds of creatures find their home in this habitat. Educational signage is scattered amongst the native plantings.
The meadow has become a healthy example of a southern New England meadow ecosystem and is used as a teaching tool as thousands of students visit the museum year after year. The meadow is maintained by EcoTarium staff.
