Highland Wildflower Project for primary schools

Iain Ferguson

High Life Highland Countryside Rangers are helping teachers and pupils make space for nature this spring by encouraging learning and creation of an increasingly rare habitat by advising on the planting of wildflowers in school grounds.

Primary schools will be able to book a local ranger to deliver outdoor sessions on wildflowers and the benefits they bring to us and wildlife.

Wildflower meadows have seen a decline of 97% since the 1930s and this is catastrophic for many species, especially the hundreds of pollinating insects relying on wildflower meadows for food.

Humans too rely on pollinators for the production of food, from fruit and vegetables to cereal crops, which is a very serious part of the message to raise awareness about the benefits of wildflowers and help with the creation of more wildflower areas in the Highlands.

Ranger Paul Castle said that the reason for this being the team’s chosen education topic for 2023 is not just about reversing the negative trend in wildflower loss but also about recognising how joyous and vibrant a wildflower patch can be.

He said: “Seeing the colour of the flowers and hearing the sounds and sights of the wildlife that lives among them can really help lift the mood. We want to celebrate this as well as sharing our knowledge with as many children as possible by teaching them about biology, wildlife and conservation of wildflower meadows.

“We hope pupils will enjoy the uplifting benefits of spending time outside in this habitat for many years to come”.

In addition to sessions delivered in schools, teachers will have access to a host of activities and information online put together by the Countryside Ranger Service.

Highlife Wildlife Wildflowers Google Classroom will remain available on the platform all year as a resource for teachers.

Just as with ranger-led sessions, the online material will cover subjects such as, how to create a wildflower patch, our heritage links with wild plants and the importance of wildflower meadows to wildlife and humans.

As part of both the Google Classroom and in-person wildflower schools project, Highland Primary school pupils will be invited to create a poem about wildflowers in English or Gaelic.