Plantlife’s hugely successful ‘Bee Scene’ survey has been rescued by family-owned cereal maker Nature’s Path, after its original funding had ended.
Over 30,000 children have already taken part in the wild flower survey since its launch in 2010. Now thousands more will have the opportunity to explore the nature on their doorstep and learn about the wild flowers growing there.
Families can discover whether their local area is good for bumblebees by looking for bee-friendly wild flowers such as foxgloves, dandelions and clovers in their local green spaces.
The results are then uploaded onto a virtual meadow map of the UK.
The survey raises awareness and understanding in children of the importance of biodiversity in their local area, starting them on a path to enjoying wild flowers and realising their importance as part of our natural heritage.
It also helps them understand the importance of wild plants for our declining pollinators. 90% of teachers who did the survey reported that ‘Bee scene’ had given them new learning about the natural environment and helped pupils understand that different wild plants are important for bees.
Nature’s Path has a strong commitment to sustainability and the natural environment and has stepped in to enable the Bee Scene initiative to reach many thousands more children and families this year after its National Lottery funding ended.
A spokesperson comments “As an organic, family owned company, with a strong commitment to the natural environment we recognise the importance of educating children early about the importance of our wild flowers and the pollinators that rely on them.
We are thrilled to be able to support Plantlife to continue this fantastic survey, so that many more children and families can take part and ‘Bee Scene’.
‘Bee Scene’ is a simple and effective way to encourage children and their families into their local parks or countryside – to enjoy them together away from the television screen, computer games and other pressures of modern life.
By using a simple flower key, they are able to count different flower shapes and colours and look out for bumblebees, so helping children understand how valuable their local green spaces are for wildlife.
Full details and bee scene resources are available online at www.plantlife.org.uk
