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Support Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Habitats by Sowing Seeds Along the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway

BARRYVILLE – The Greater Barryville Chamber of Commerce and Bicycle Shows U.S. will sponsor a first-ever Barryville Butterfly Bike Ride on October 15 to help support habitat restoration for the Monarch Butterfly and other pollinators. All are welcome to pre-register by October 13 at https://Barryvilleny.com/butterflybikeride.

Bicyclists will strategically toss wildflower seeds along the 4.6-mile route which starts in Lackawaxen, PA at 10:30 a.m. and proceeds to Barryville along the New York State Route 97 Upper Delaware Scenic Byway.

There is also a 0.6-mile option to join with the flight of bikes at River Road Park to the final destination of the Barryville Farmer’s Market at 12 River Road behind the River Market, where light refreshments will be served.

Individuals who sign up for $10 will receive one bag of Sunshine SeedRZ, which are clay discs infused with milkweed or other native pollinator seeds. Families contributing $25 are entitled to get three bags.

Additional seed bags may be purchased during the check-in which begins at 10 a.m. at the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Zane Grey Access parking lot located across the Roebling Bridge along Scenic Drive in Lackawaxen. Limited day-of registration may be available with cash contributions only.

Participants are encouraged to get into the spirit by decorating their bicycles and themselves as butterflies, bees, and other pollinators. Bike helmets are required wearing. Bringing pre-filled water bottles is recommended.

Those taking part in the 4.6-mile ride will be shuttled back to their vehicles by Reber River Trips.

Other Barryville Butterfly Bike Ride supporters include: Barryville Emporium; Barryville Farmer’s Market; The Delaware Company; Delaware Highland Conservancy; Dr. Marie Devore, DMD; Finehand Signs; Middletown Medical/Dr. Richard Daboul, MD; My Happy Place Yoga Shala; Natural Contents; National Park Service Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River; New York State Department of Transportation; Stickett Inn; Sunshine Studios at Barryville; the Town of Highland; Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, Inc.; and W Design Group.

This fun event is motivated by the recent release of a new brochure, “The Monarch Butterfly: Fostering the Flyway by the Byway”, as a partnership project of the Town of Highland, the Upper Delaware Council, and the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway.

The 16-panel color brochure raises awareness about the 82% decline in the Monarch Butterfly population over the last 20 years and offers tips on what can be done to help revitalize this important species. The Delaware River serves as a flyway for the annual migration of Northeastern Monarchs to their wintering roosts in central Mexico.

Links to the brochure and additional informational resources are available at https://upperdelawarecouncil.org/monarch-butterfly/ and www.upperdelawarescenicbyway.org under Attractions. Requests for print copies may be made at info@upperdelawarescenicbyway.org.

For information on the Greater Barryville Chamber of Commerce, please contact (845) 557-6500 or info@barryvilleny.com.