Grassland Groupies nurture a love for nature conservation

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Nature is Nicole Brown’s passion.

“This is a completely native garden,” she said, showing off a new garden by the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit in Wichita.

Brown is a co-founder and president of Grassland Groupies.

“Grasslands are a very unique ecosystem. They’re often very overlooked, so inspiring that people to love them is really, really important because they’re one of Earth’s most endangered ecosystems,” she explained.

Almost half of Kansas is covered in grassland. The nonprofit focuses on education and conservation. It also heads the Bee City Wichita committee.

“So creating and improving pollinator habitat. Also looking at reducing pesticide use in the city,” she said.

The group teams up with others to grow gardens that serve as a small ecosystem.

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“These plants and these insects that are supporting so much more wildlife than just each other. These gardens are creating a habitat for birds. It’s creating food for birds both in the form of insects but also in seeds,” Brown explained.

Grassland Groupies are planting the seed for more to get involved.

“It just takes one or two little efforts to make people realize, oh, I can do this. I can do that,” said Lynn Rogers, President of the Friends of the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit. “If everybody does that, it’ll just start making a bigger impact.”

“Even a little tiny space can really really make a difference,” Brown said.

The nonprofit is doing its part to nurture Mother Nature. You can learn more about Grassland Groupies by clicking here. They host regular nature hikes.

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