Primary school students have been doing their bit to boost the declining number of pollinating insects across north and West Cumbria.
On Outdoor Classroom Day, pupils of Beckstone Primary School celebrated pollinators by day and night as part of Get Cumbria Buzzing, Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s project to boost the declining number of pollinating insects across North and West Cumbria.
By day, year two pupils sowed seed and planted 60 native wildflower plants on the school’s grounds and in the evening, year six pupils carried pollinator lanterns while year five pupils provided the ambient, atmospheric beat with instruments.
David Warbrick, Headteacher, Beckstone Primary School said: “The Pollinator Lantern parade was an absolute success. It was thoroughly enjoyed by the 41 pupils and 20 adults who carried the lanterns (including our Chair of Governors) and those lining the streets loved it. We have received many messages of appreciation for the spectacular effect the parade had.
“I would like to say a very big ‘Thank You’ to Workington Nature Partnership, the artists and the volunteers who contributed to this wonderful event.”
The celebratory lantern procession provided a lap of honour around Jubilee Park, part of Harrington Nature Reserve, to acknowledge the Get Cumbria Buzzing project work done by school children, Lakes College students and Workington Nature Partnership (WPN) volunteers.
They’re creating habitat and nectar-rich wildflowers in the upper meadow and surrounding shrub beds, for all pollinating insects, in a bid to create “B-lines” – pollinator habitat pathways – across West Cumbria.
Carolyn Postlethwaite, Project Officer for Get Cumbria Buzzing said: “Wild pollinating insects are in trouble and need our help. More than half of UK bee, butterfly and moth species have declined in the past 50 years, and over the last 75 years, we’ve lost 97% of our flower rich meadows. To halt and reverse these alarming declines, we urgently need to restore wild spaces and wildflowers for pollinators.
“This lantern parade was a beautiful and memorable event to raise awareness of our project which is all about helping bees and other pollinators in North and West Cumbria. Huge thanks to everyone getting involved, and to all the schools and communities, from Workington and Whitehaven up to Carlisle, taking actions from wildflower planting to recording pollinators!”
Staff from Allerdale Borough Council, and volunteers from WNP took on the role of fire marshals and road safety crossing supervisors, to ensure the event was a great success.
Susan Cammish, Nature Ranger, WNP said, “I was overwhelmed at seeing the amazing turnout of parents, families and friends, at both the school entrance, and the at the nature reserve, to support the children in the procession. I was proud of their achievements and the joy it brought to the local community who came out of their houses to support us as we passed by.
“It’s a great way to inspire children to get involved in discovering and discussing the importance of nature and wildlife, and the positive impact we can make in our local environment.”
Di and Naomi from Stomping Ground delivered the lantern-making workshops, working with all children in year 6 at Beckstone Primary School, supported by Susan Cammish from Workington Nature Partnership.
For more information on the Get Cumbria Buzzing project and how you can get involved to help Cumbria’s pollinators, please contact us at: CarolynP@cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk Or find us at: https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/getcumbriabuzzing
Photos and videos can be seen at https://www.beckstone.cumbria.sch.uk/pupil_zone/film_photo_gallery/2021-2022/lantern-parade/index.html.
