Inspiring Children to Connect with Nature
Our team has been visiting some of the primary schools to see how they're getting on with their kits.
It's been wonderful to see the children so engaged with their gardens - planting, topping up the bird feeders, and enthusiastically learning about the wildlife around them. Their excitement and curiosity have been a joy to witness.
Richard De Clare Community Academy - Halstead chose a Bumblebee Kit.
Our first school visit, on a very rainy day - but this didn't quash the children's enthusiasm to get outdoors and show us their garden in the slightest! Teacher Mrs Drury told us all about the garden;
"We have plants that attract bees in a new wildlife section of our school grounds, which is beside a new building, helping to rewild an area of our school grounds.
We focused on purchasing plants to have maximum impact on the children. The children in years 2 and 3 helped to dig the bed and completed all of the planting. We also planted additional seeds as part of our science work and chose plants that would attract bees.
It has inspired one child to create a bumblebee house that has also been added to the area as part of our school community awards. Pupils water and check it regularly, already observing several bees visiting! We will link the work to the Year 2 science curriculum next term on life cycles, learning about the life cycle of a bee."
St Gregory Primary School - Sudbury chose a Bumblebee Kit
During our visit, we helped the nursery children plant their new pollinator-friendly plants into pots. They thoroughly enjoyed getting hands-on with the planting and learning how these flowers will provide food for bees and other pollinators. The children are now excited to watch their courtyard come to life as buzzing bees and other wildlife begin to visit.
Oakfield Primary School - Wickford also chose a Bumblebee Kit
We were really impressed with how this school have embraced nature as part of their school day.
Teacher Mrs Pinchback "We have added the bumblebee kit to our bee corridor to encourage pollinators and other wildlife to our school grounds."
The children have been busy building their own bumblebee homes, caring for the plants by watering them, and observing which bees, butterflies and other pollinators stop by to visit their Bee Corridor. It’s been a wonderful hands-on way to learn about nature and the important role pollinators play in our environment.
Willow Brook Primary School - Colchester chose a House Sparrow Kit.
The children chose the House Sparrow kit to help support local bird populations and create a more welcoming habitat for wildlife.
Bird feeders and water stations have been placed throughout their allotment and around the school's quad, providing birds with food and fresh water while encouraging the children to observe and learn about the wildlife visiting their school grounds.
Kelvedon St Mary's Primary School - Kelvedon chose a Bumblebee Kit
Teacher Mrs Wilson visited Perrywood with some of her class to choose their plants and equipment for their wildlife kit, it was a delight to help them fill their trolley! We then visited them at school to see what they'd created - a peaceful outdoor reading corner alongside a thriving bumblebee garden, now filled with beautiful plants and a bee house. The space has become a wonderful place for children to relax, read, and enjoy the plants and the wildlife that visit throughout the day.
Watch our Instagram reel here - visiting Perrywood
Watch our Instagram reel here - school garden
There's more to come...
To finalise our wildlife support, three of the participating schools will be chosen to receive a special reward for the work they've done to create a garden. More on this in September for the new school year!
Here's the full list of schools taking part. If you spot your school, why not ask them to share their wildlife project? We'd love for you to see all the fantastic work the children have been doing:
