For the 2020/21 planting season, we were fortunate to receive funding from the Postcode Local Trust for ten schools to take part in our Flutter Flowers programme. We decided to focus on schools that are considered being in largely financially deprived areas of England, to engage children that usually don’t have access to nature with wildflower planting at their school.
At Mottingham Primary School in London, they received their 100 native wildflower plugs in March 2021. They actively engaged 71 children aged 5-11 years, with help from 6 teachers, to plant their wildflowers for a full day. In this area of London, 33.2% of children come from income deprived families. Teacher, Pauline York provided this great feedback about the day:
“The children really enjoyed the experience of planting they were very excited. We were even planting in the rain by the end of the day but it didn’t bother them, they were so engrossed in what they were doing. The children and the staff learnt new skill planting the wildflowers. Which caused lots of discussion between children and staff helping each other. Some of the school governors and the head teacher came to see what was happening and were very impressed with the children’s enthusiasm. The wildflower meadow is part of our wildlife garden which has different types of habitats.
During our science and outdoor learning sessions the garden will be used to study plants and animals, allowing the school to have regular and easy access to nature. The garden will also be used as part of our wellbeing sessions by engaging in nature in ways such as drawing, creative writing and poetry as well as just taking time to watch nature, enabling children and staff to have a place to go relax. I am hoping the meadow and other habitats will engage the children with nature on their doorstep, to become inquisitive about the living things around them, and therefore look after it.”
