Our Goal
is to give children and youth alike the tools to plant their own wildflower meadow at their school and acquire new knowledge. We have a vision of turning 20,000m2 of unused or degraded land into wildflower meadows at 1,000 sites.
WHY DO WE PLANT wildflowers WITH SCHOOLS?
Wildflower meadows are important habits and source of food for several types of wildlife, in particular terrestrial invertebrates like butterflies, bees and moths, as well a number of insects that all play an important role to also attract other larger wildlife like birds, bats and hedgehogs.
It has become increasingly rare to find wildflower meadows in the UK and beyond. An incredible 97% of all wildflower meadows were lost within a 50 years period in the UK, due to agricultural and urban expansion. This has caused the damaging result of flying insect populations having plunged by 75% in 25 years.
The School Flutter Flowers programme plays an important role in creating new habitats for native species, in particular within urban areas, while teaching the next generations about sciences, ecology, the environment, climate change and the importance of the natural world and wildlife. We need more wildflowers to boost our insect and pollinator populations, but also make the future generations value nature and become its champion defenders.
If you have already been chosen to plant a Wildflower Meadow at your school, you can find more information here about the programme, what we provide, inspiration for activities and more!
What is Flutter Flowers?
The School Flutter Flowers programme aims to re-flower an area within school grounds. The children will plant wildflowers that are all native and according to local conditions; creating a small wildflower meadow, which will support the return of native species of insects and invertebrates to the area. This includes important species like butterflies and bees, which are indicator species of an overall healthy environment.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
The School Flutter Flower Programme has two core purposes, which offer multiple benefits. It is firstly a practical planting programme that aims to boost the dwindling invertebrate populations, which support a wealth of other animal species higher up the food chain. Secondly, the process of planting the wildflower meadow will teach children and youth practical skills, have them learn about the natural world, and have fun while doing it. Some of the skills that the children gain include:
How to use tools, such as trowels, and rakes
Listening to instructions on planting, asking questions
Wildlife identification; they learn to recognise some wildflowers, plants and insects, including butterfly species and handle small creatures such as snails and worms
Perseverance; often it is not easy for them, but with encouragement they see it through
Creative thinking; children given a taste of freedom come up with very imaginative and inspiring ideas as they plant the flowers
Team work and sharing
Responsibility; to take care of a habitat/flowers and wildlife they come across
A feeling of working together for a good cause, a connection with each other and the land.
what happens with the flowers?
The new wildflower meadow, consisting of up to 100 individual native flowers, will form a new green and natural area in the school grounds. As the years go by, being looked after and properly managed by the school, the flowers will have settled and continue to grow and spread. All creating a new and sustainable habitat that will result in more butterflies, lady bugs, bees, insects of all kinds and other important wildlife species to appear and thrive.
Does this sound like something your school would like to be part of? If you are an educational facility interested in planting and looking after a wildflower meadow, you can show your interest by clicking on the ‘Register your school’ link below.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SUPPORT US?
For just £350 you can sponsor a local school to create a wildflower meadow of native flowers. We have a list of interested schools just waiting to be matched with sponsors, who are willing to support their project.
If you would like to sponsor one or several schools, or become our charity partner, then check out how by clicking on the ‘Support a Project’ link below. Looking forward to hearing from you!