KINGSMEAD Primary School is one of four local schools to be chosen to take part in the UK-wide Polli:Nation Project.

The scheme is aimed at designing a variety of habitats in each of the schools to help protect pollinating insect species in the UK.

The children at Kingsmead Primary have been busy improving their school grounds further as part of their British Science week activities. Pupils took advantage of the fine weather and were out and about creating new homes for wildlife in their school environment.

Working with Rupert Adams, Education Officer for Butterfly Conservation, Year 3 and 4 children built solitary bee homes and under the guidance of Dave Bullock from FoAM (Friends of Anderton and Marbury), Year 3 and 4 pupils also built bug houses and nest boxes.

At the same time, reception children helped refurbish existing bug hotels and build two new hotels around the school field.

Parent volunteers prepared an area of ground in the school which Year 5 children have sowed with wildflower meadow seed.

After researching suitable plants that attract bees and insects, pupils also planted up a bog garden in the school grounds and planted a large number of insect-friendly plants in the long grassy verges with help from Angie Turner, Director of Wild Academy.

These projects aim to provide nectar-rich sources to increase the number and diversity of pollinating insects in the local area.