Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes welcomed Year 4 pupils from Allington Primary School to a ‘bee safari’ at The Poppies in Maidstone. Delivered in partnership with The Bumblebee Conservation Trust, the activity aimed to inspire the next generation to protect pollinators and local wildlife.
During the visit, pupils explored a striking sculpture by environmental artist Will Nash that doubles as a habitat for bees and other insects, before taking part in activities designed to highlight the importance of pollinators and biodiversity.
Over the last century, the UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows, putting the bumblebee population at critical risk. The impact of this loss on biodiversity is significant, with habitat protection and restoration being key missions of The Bumblebee Conservation Trust.
The session began with a talk by Education & Outreach Officer Emily Lane, who explained the importance of preserving bumblebee habitats and the vital role that developers play in ensuring the built environment is bee friendly. Pupils explored the sculpture before taking part in a bee count, helping to record the pollinator activity as part of the charity’s ongoing conservation work.
Emily Lane, Education & Outreach Officer at The Bumblebee Conservation Trust, commented: “Inspiring children and young people to connect with nature is vital to our mission, as the next generation hold the key to ensuring the future health of our planet. It was a pleasure to spend time with the pupils and help them understand all the simple ways that they can look after pollinators and protect the local environment.”
Danielle Spry, Year 4 Teacher at Allington Primary School, added: “Our pupils had a fantastic time at The Poppies learning about biodiversity from Emily. Gaining real-world insight from people working in conservation is a great way to support our teaching about the environment. We’re grateful to Barratt Homes, David Wilson Homes and The Bumblebee Conservation Trust for the opportunity.”
Natalie Perry, Sales and Marketing Director at Barratt David Wilson Kent, commented: “Creating places where people and nature can thrive together is an important part of how we design our developments. Through our partnership with The Bumblebee Conservation Trust, we’re able to show that new communities can support biodiversity while also giving local children the opportunity to learn more about the wildlife on their doorstep.”
Phil Hurring, Marketing Manager at Barratt Redrow Southern Counties, concluded: “The ‘bee safari’ has been a great way to connect young people with nature, while also showing how initiatives like Will Nash’s biodiversity structure, Bugging-ham Palace, can help inspire young minds to support the local wildlife.”
