Kids plant butterfly bank to create wildlife habitat for rare insects
By Piriyanga Thirunimalan
One day they’re little and squidgy and eating everything in sight – next day butterflies are transforming the world.
It’s the same with kids.
So it’s fitting some primary school children have planted up a large butterfly bank in their school field to create new wildlife habitats for rare insects.
The event was organised by the Brilliant Butterflies project and took place at Fairchildes Primary School in New Addington last month.
The Brilliant Butterflies team created the bank in July and it was later planted by 60 pupils from Year Five.
The banks are large chalk grassland habitats which are planted to attract the declining population of pollinating invertebrates and wild butterflies.
Fairchildes headteacher Joanna Hussey, 52, said: “The children were very excited and can’t wait for the plants to grow and the butterflies to arrive.
“This project has really made our children think about the area and environment in which they live.”
Brilliant Butterflies is a two-year partnership project between the London Wildlife Trust, Natural History Museum and Butterfly Conservation.
The project was officially launched at Hutchinson’s Bank, also in New Addington, in September 2019, and multiple banks have now been built in South Croydon and Bromley.
Brilliant Butterflies community engagement officer Sunitha Amos said: “Kids love animals so they are an easy win.
“It’s such an amazing feeling. Knowing that these children have something to nurture and look after is great for them and us.”
Butterfly banks have also been created at nearby schools Castle Hill Primary and Applegarth Academy.
Pictured top: Children from Fairchildes Primary School in New Addington taking part in the Brilliant Butterflies project
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