It has been a while since I last posted an update….. I have been so busy at school getting my hands dirty digging a new “Pollinator Plot” just outside my classroom….! Stuffed full of bee and butterfly friendly plants such as Verbena Bonariensis, Rudbekia, and Erigeron Kervinskianus, I hope the new planting area will not only attract lots of bees and butterflies but will also inspire the pupils to appreciate the beauty of nature.

Since January 2021, the pupils of New Mills School and I have been working with Craig, the school groundsman, to create the Butterfly Garden and the Pollinator Plot. The Butterfly Garden is a development of the award winning 2019 RHS Tatton Park School Garden (when New Mills School won People’s Choice and Highly Commended). All the artwork within this garden has been made by pupils of NMS – the bug pods and bug bowls hidden amongst the plants, and the white clay flowers covering the arch were made by pupils in 2019. The back-drop ceramic butterfly was made and decorated by Year 8 and Year 9 pupils who have attended my Art Clubs this year.

The Butterfly Garden and Pollinator Plot were open to the public as part of the New Mills School National Open Garden scheme on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th July 2021. Many people attended that weekend – with some lovely postive feedback. During the last couple of weeks before the summer holiday the pupils have been thoroughly enjoying the new areas – relaxing during lunchbreak and finding the spaces calming places to complete classwork. Each week the plants are getting bigger and more flowery – by the return in September the gardens will be at their optimum and looking fantastic! Fingers crossed for more butterfly friendly weather…