A new woodland grove and wildflower meadows are being created at Brightstone Primary School for the Queen’s Green Canopy, thanks to a grant from Wightlink’s Green Fund for Schools and the Free Trees for Schools initiative of the Woodlands Trust.
At the start of the school year, the school’s eco-committee identified increasing biodiversity in schoolyards as a top priority for the coming year and considered different ways to achieve this. .
With the help of the school’s garden club, wildflower seeds have been sown around the playground to create a floral bee border, with native plug plants due to be added later this month- this.
Additionally, a mini chalkland wildflower habitat is planted with a contrasting heathland flower habitat to replicate the flowers found on Brightstone Down.
Children in grades 3 and 6 have worked hard to plant native wild cherry trees, silver birches and mountain ash trees next to the school playground, which will eventually provide food and shelter for the birds and small animals. The trees got off to a good start with local compost kindly provided at a reduced rate by Isle of Wight Compost.
Eco-Committee leader Fiona Johnstone said:
“The children are very aware of the importance of taking care of the environment and our eco-committee has planned a number of practical activities to increase the biodiversity of the schoolyard.”
Director Rebecca Lennon adds:
“Thanks to the grant from Wightlink, trees from the Woodland Trust and the help of Isle of Wight compost, the children have got off to a great start in transforming the schoolyard, which they will enjoy studying as plants bloom and birds and insects are attracted to new habitats.
Wightlink Managing Director Keith Greenfield said:
“The goal of the Green Schools Fund is to tap into the enthusiasm that reigns in Island elementary schools and support projects that will have a lasting effect on the local environment. We are delighted to have been part of this fantastic project in Brightstone.
The school will also use Wightlink’s £660 grant to renovate the school’s vegetable garden and install a new compost bin.
