Plantlife Citizen Science - Every Flower Counts

This month is No Mow May. People are encouraged to leave their lawns, or an area of lawn, un-mown, to allow native flowers to grow, encourage diversity and provide a beneficial habitat for insects and wildlife.  

Our children embraced this science and maths linked challenge, following instructions to make a metre-square. They printed off an identification sheet, and, setting the square down over an area of un-mown grass, they identified and counted the flower species that they found. We also used a metre wheel to measure the area.

We found daisy, dandelion, speedwell, buttercup and mouse ear.

Our results will be submitted to Plantlife for use in their survey. In return, we will receive our Personal Nectar Score.

For more information and to take part at home, visit the Plantlife website- About - No Mow May (plantlife.org.uk)

Other Nature News

Some children found mysterious holes on the leaves of a hazel bush in school. On closer inspection, they discovered some shiny blue beetles. Our Vice Chair of Governors, Mr Rogers, thinks that the insects may be called Alder Leaf beetles. This beetle was considered extinct in the UK for about 70 years until some were discovered in Manchester about 15 years ago. They have been expanding in the North-West, but they are still considered a rarity. They feed on hazel where alder is scarce.