Habitat wing
Bumblebee-friendly Schools is made up of four different criteria called wings. In the Habitat wing, space is created to support bumblebees in the school grounds.
How your school’s actions will help bumblebees
Flowers are a bumblebee’s only source of food. In the last century, the UK has lost over 97% of its wildflower meadows. Bumblebees emerge from hibernation in early spring and are buzzing around until late autumn. During this time they need plenty of flowers to keep them going.
By planting bumblebee-friendly flowers in your school, you will be replacing some of the habitat that has been lost. If you are able to provide flowers across multiple seasons, you will be supporting even more bumblebees by providing food throughout their flight season.
Schools must complete the following actions to achieve the Habitat wing.
Action: Designate an area on your school grounds to be bumblebee-friendly and add three different types of bumblebee-friendly flowers.
Guidance: Your bumblebee-friendly area can be any size, from a small planter to a playing field. Choose at least three different bumblebee-friendly flowers from our free resources and get planting! Make sure to clearly mark your bumblebee-friendly area, so everyone knows you are helping the bumblebees.
Evidence: A photograph of your bumblebee-friendly area and list of at least three bumblebee-friendly plants included.
Action: Ensure that your bumblebee-friendly area has bumblebee-friendly plants that are in flower in at least two seasons.
Guidance: Use some of our free resources to ensure your bumblebee-friendly area includes bumblebee-friendly plants that will flower in at least two seasons: spring, summer, autumn or winter.
Evidence: List of bumblebee-friendly plants included that flower in at least two seasons.
Action: Create a group responsible for maintaining your bumblebee-friendly area.
Guidance: A group of students are made responsible for maintaining the bumblebee-friendly area, along with at least one member of staff. The group can be an existing school club or newly formed.
Evidence: A copy of the list of actions undertaken by the group responsible for maintaining your bumblebee-friendly area.
Resource Library
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Click on each wing below for more guidance on how to complete actions and provide evidence to earn Bumblebee-friendly Schools accreditation.
