Gift vouchers help pupils buy plants for playground
A RHONDDA school has benefited from free National Garden gift vouchers courtesy of environmental charity Keep Wales Tidy.
Children from Penygraig Junior School rolled up their sleeves when they found out they had been successful in applying for funding, which they used to buy pollinator-friendly plants for their school playground.
The funding was awarded as part of the Natural Buzz cam- paign, a programme funded by the Welsh Government.
The initiative aims to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators and to help communities create new habitats and food sources for pollinators.
Keep Wales Tidy asked schools across Wales to apply for a Natural Buzz grant of up to £250 to support their pollinator improvement projects. As part of their environmental project, Penygraig Junior School planted a variety of plants, herbs and shrubs including redcurrants, blackcurrants, lavenders, rosemary and ivy, helping bees and butterflies in the area.
Catrin Carter, Year 6 chairperson on the school’s Eco Council, said: “We were thrilled when we found out that we’d been successful in applying for garden centre vouchers.
“Natural Buzz has enabled us to make a huge improvement to the pollen and nectar that’s on offer in Penygraig and hopefully this will benefit our local environment and wildlife, as well as the local community.”
Lesley Jones, chief executive of Keep Wales Tidy, said: “I am delighted that so many schools across Wales got involved to help our pollinators and their natural environment.
“They have planted new flowering plants to attract our bees and butterflies, as well as giving existing habitats a helping hand.
“Keep Wales Tidy would like to thank the Welsh Government for all their support, ensuring that the Natural Buzz has been a great success for schools across Wales.”
For more information on the Natural Buzz project, email Group Funding@ keepwalestidy.org or visit the website www.keepwalestidy. org.