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The Biodiversity in your Backyard is Awesome!

The Beaty Biodiversity Museum is Vancouver’s natural history museum. We work to promote a greater understanding of, and collective responsibility for, the biodiversity of BC, Canada, and the World.

Beaty Biodiversity Museum The Beaty Biodiversity Museum is Vancouver’s natural history museum. We work to promote a greater understanding of, and collective responsibility for, the biodiversity of BC, Canada, and the World. Come visit us on UBC campus - we’re located at 2212 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC. You can find more info at beatymuseum.ubc.ca. Follow us @beatymuseum on Twitter & Instagram and like us on Facebook.

Amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, it’s easy to forget that biodiversity is all around us. Think about your balcony for a moment. How many times have you been visited by spiders, ladybugs, butterflies, or even a surprise sprout in your pots? As unexpected as it may seem, plenty of life thrives in Vancouver!

 A selection of soil organisms from UBC.A selection of oil organisms from UBC.

Backyard Biodiversity programming seeks to explore the variety of life in BC by showcasing our amazing assemblage of local species through arts, science, interactive programming, exhibits, and quiet spaces.

The next time you open a window, step outside onto your patio, or spend time in your garden, take an extra minute to think about and appreciate the life you see, like birds, mammals, insects, plants, and other creatures. Each type of organism fills an important role in our urban environment, and it’s up to each of us to be stewards for their conservation.

How can you make your backyard biodiversity more awesome? Consider planting native species of plants, eliminate your use of pesticides, and increase the amount of recycling and compost you divert from the trash.

 A sample of plants collected from the Museum’s backyard.A sample of plants collected from the museum’s backyard.

If you aren’t sure what a biodiverse backyard could look like, visit the Beaty Biodiversity Museum and join one of our daily tours for a peek at our Biodiversity Courtyard & Green Roof. The courtyard is the living roof of the Museum, with areas that represent aquatic, meadow, forest edge, forest clearing, and forest understory habitats. It takes up the space between UBC's Biodiversity Research Centre, the Aquatic Ecosystems Research Laboratory, and the Beaty Biodiversity Museum's glass atrium. Learn about some of the birds, trees, pollinators, shrubs, crawling creatures, aquatic plants, and small mammals calling our courtyard their home.

Explore BC biodiversity every day at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum - visit our website for information on our talks, tours, activities, and more!

Backyard Biodiversity