CHILDREN at schools across Swindon have been taking part in projects to help our struggling bee population.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has organised the ‘bee friendly’ project with local primary schools supported by MINI Plant Swindon to engage the children with hands-on nature activities, such as planting and growing native wild flowers and nectar plants in ‘bee-beds’.

On Friday, the WWF visited Grange Infants School with North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson and WWF Director Gary Mantle.

The Trust’s Education Officer, Anne Billinge, said: “This is a great project to teach youngsters the value of nature, learning about the importance of biodiversity and teaching them the concept and the value of living landscapes.

“The Trust will be working with MINI Plant, Swindon, and local schools to develop wildlife areas and raise awareness of the plight of our friend, the bee.

“The humble bee plays a very significant role in nature. They pollinate flowers, producing honey and beeswax. It’s a particularly important project because 2012 was such a bad year for Britain’s bees.

“Many insects, such as bees, don’t fly in heavy winds and rain or cold weather. So we hope to make 2013 a better year for them by providing food sources and having the children do it with us gives them the chance to learn lessons that embed an appreciation of nature and the environment.”

Kimberley Ragousis from MINI Plant Swindon said: “We’re delighted to be involved in creating local ‘Bee Friendly’ wildlife gardens. It’s wonderful that by using the gardens in a creative way, we can provide a simulating educational tool for the children.”

As part of the project, each of the participating schools will have a dedicated Education Officer provided by the Trust. These officers will install a bee-bed filled with nectar plants and native wildflowers, which the children will help to plant and maintain.

The children will be able to log their bee sightings via a special spotter sheet on the Trust’s website. There will also be regular nature-based activities for the children to enjoy.

Speaking on behalf of Grange Federation, Assistant Head Emma Wilson said: “We use our outdoor areas as much as possible to develop and enrich our children’s learning.

“A bee garden will be the perfect addition to our facilities and we really value the opportunity to teach pupils, first hand, about the importance of bees.”