Havant school chosen to take part in vital pollinator research

As one of four local schools selected for the UK-wide Polli:Nation programme, the pupils of St Alban’s Primary School, along with Bohunt School, Park Community School and The Petersfield School, will now transform their outdoor spaces to become pollinator-friendly habitats.

The schools made a joint application and were selected among 260 others across the UK. Over a period of three years, each of the schools will now be supported by a Polli:Nation facilitator from Learning through Landscapes – the national school grounds charity responsible for the project.

Julie Newman at St Alban’s said: ‘We are absolutely thrilled to be a part of this project and honoured to be making a contribution to such important research.

‘Not only does Polli:Nation offer the children a fantastic opportunity to develop their own environment to aid the declining population of pollinators, it also offers the perfect platform to consider our 
environment and pesticides on a global scale, while also involving members of the local community.’

The school will explore how it might grow more flowers, shrubs and trees, let these grow wild, cut grass less often, not disturb insect nests and hibernation spots and think carefully about whether to use pesticides.

Once the project is fully under way, the schools will also have the opportunity to contribute vital data in a UK-wide pollinator survey from OPAL Imperial College, London.

David Hodd, the project manager of Learning through Landscapes, said: ‘It is critical that we address the declining numbers of pollinating insects in Britain, and the support of schools and communities in the south of Hampshire will certainly contribute to the overall success of the Polli:Nation programme.

‘We look forward to seeing the final results of the school’s projects.’

If you are interested in volunteering to help with the project, then please contact [email protected].