Nurturing Nature Begins at Home
Over the summer, the RGS Environment Committee ran a competition for Lower School pupils to improve the biodiversity of their gardens or other outside spaces.
Insect biodiversity has suffered tremendously worldwide in recent decades. In the UK we have lost an estimated 60% of our insect life in the last 20 years. Much of this is due to agricultural processes, but air pollution and climate change are also thought to have had an impact.
Fortunately, this is an environmental issue where individual actions can make a tangible difference. While we can influence farming practices only from a distance (for example through the foods we choose to buy), we can make an immediate and significant difference to our local insect populations by providing them with habitats in which they can thrive in our gardens, parks and even by providing window boxes or patio plant pots.
This summer, Lower School pupils were set the challenge of transforming an outside space of their choice to make it more insect friendly. We also encouraged them to photograph the insects that they spotted in their new bug haven – or anywhere else that insects are to be found – and create a piece of photographic art with what they saw. We have had some inspiring entries and have now nominated an overall winner as well as a runner up in each category.
Congratulations to our winner, Tom McElhannan, who not only carefully planned and built a beautiful wildlife pond, but then went on to create a spectacular photograph collage of a bee pollinating a flower. Tom explains that, when crafting his pond, he “tried to add as many layers to the pond as possible so all animals and insects had just the right amount of space they needed. For example, some would want fairly deep water to hide from predators, whereas a dragonfly would want shallow waters upon which to sit.” Tom also describes how he: “added wild grass for easy hunting for animals” and “added a tree stump as these are great for attracting insects such as beetles, worms and woodlice. Stones along the bank of the right side of a sunbathing area for ladybird and dragonflies.” Tom “used a plant that attracts butterflies, lavender, to attract bees and planted some water plants that could be used for hiding places for water animals.”
Congratulations also to our runners up, Amelia Gutteridge and Rafferty Pearce. Amelia created an insect haven in a damp, shaded space. This includes a shallow water pool (to encourage water insects or small mammals to drink from), plants and pots (for hiding spaces) and moss (to provide damp areas for creatures like woodlice). Whilst making the insect haven, Amelia was inspired when she came across a toad so she also “added features that would welcome the animal such as plant pots buried in soil and dry leaves.”
Rafferty took an array of vivid nature photographs featuring plants and landscapes as well as creatures. We were particularly impressed by his image of a green butterfly on a pink flower which is an excellent illustration of the beauty of biodiversity.
Thank you very much to everyone who took part in the competition. We expect that local insects will be thanking you, too!
If you would like to find out more about supporting biodiversity in your own outside space, here are some useful sites:
- Five ways to attract insects
- Patio planting for bees
- An article about urban gardening on a balcony
- A guide to some of the helpful insects that you want to attract to your garden
- Window box inspiration
- Bee-friendly wildflowers
- For the ambitious, guidance for creating a wildlife pond
Mrs Kate Hyndman, Teacher of English and RGS Environmental Officer