Children from Endeavour Primary School (King & Kirk campus), Portway Junior School, Clatford Primary School and Knights Enham Junior School have completed the next stage of a months-long wildflower project (Disappearing Wildflowers) with Andover Trees United, planting out flowers they first sowed themselves back in April.
Despite the wet weather, pupils arrived at Harmony Woods ready to get their hands muddy and put their young plants into the ground, helping create new habitat for insects and other wildlife.
The planting marked the culmination of a project that involved the children throughout the growing process, from sowing the original seeds and nurturing the young plants to finally planting them in the woodland.
The wildflowers will support Andover Trees United’s wider work to improve biodiversity at Harmony Woods, creating additional food and shelter for pollinators and other wildlife while adding greater variety to the woodland habitat.
For the children, the project also gave them the chance to see first-hand how conservation can begin with something as simple as a seed.
Abbey Sadler, Nature & Community Engagement Officer at Andover Trees United, said:
“There is something very special about children being involved from the beginning. They haven’t simply arrived to plant something someone else has grown. They sowed these seeds themselves, cared for them, and have now come back to give them a permanent home at Harmony Woods.”
“The rain certainly didn’t put them off. They got stuck in, worked brilliantly together and can now come back in the future and see how the wildflowers they planted are developing.”
The project forms part of Andover Trees United’s continuing work with local schools to give children practical opportunities to learn about trees, wildlife, biodiversity and the importance of caring for the natural environment.
By involving young people directly in planting and habitat creation, the charity hopes to build a lasting connection between children and the natural spaces around them.
The wet conditions may have meant muddy boots, but they also provided ideal conditions for establishing the young plants.
A huge thank you goes to the children and staff at Endeavour Primary School (King & Kirk campus), Portway Junior School, Clatford Primary School and Knights Enham Junior School for their enthusiasm, determination and continued support.