Cape Fear Garden Club earned an Affiliate of the Year award at North Carolina Wildlife Federation’s 57th Annual Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards.

Formed in 1925, Cape Fear Garden Club was among the 18 agency professionals, elected officials, volunteers and organizations celebrated at a banquet in Cary for their dedication to North Carolina’s wildlife, habitat and natural resources. 

NCWF Board Chair John Hairr and NC Wildlife Resources Commission Executive Director Cameron Ingram presented honorees with specially made wildlife statuettes following a thank you message from Gov. Roy Cooper. 

During the pandemic, the need for social distancing curtailed some of the club’s work, such as the annual garden tours, but its members didn’t just fold the tents, said banquet emcee and awards chair T. Edward Nickens, in a news release.

Instead, the club focused on its “roots,” planting organic and sustainable backyard and community gardens filled with herbs, flowers and plants that benefit birds, pollinators and wildlife. 

“There’s something particularly nurturing about planting a garden for wildlife,” he said. “So many people have found that providing resources for birds and butterflies also provides solace and strength to gardening.”

Members also wrote a plan and hired a videographer to create videos to inspire those who want to establish healthy habitats, attract wildlife and turn their outdoor space into a Certified Wildlife Habitat. Housed on the Cape Fear Garden Club’s YouTube channel, the videos cover four categories of certification: providing food, supplying water, creating cover and giving wildlife a place to raise their young.

“We really appreciate this. When we did the video, we were just having so much fun doing what we normally do – going outside and working in a garden – and it was our way of giving back,” said club member Mary Smith in the release.

First presented in 1958, the Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards are the highest natural resource honors given in the state.