Here at Macmillan Academy we are taking part in an exciting Heritage Lottery funded biodiversity and education project called Polli:Nation.



Here at Macmillan Academy we are taking part in an exciting Heritage Lottery funded biodiversity and education project called Polli:Nation. Last spring our Eco-council and Eco-squad students took part in planting 25 fruit trees to form a mixed orchard in the school grounds. This spring the students have taken part in preparing and sowing wild flower seeds through the orchard to create a habitat that will attract more pollinator species. These include bees and butterflies which are in national decline. A native mix of wild flower seeds were sown together with red poppy seeds in commemoration of the soldiers who gave their lives in the First World War.

As the lead school in a cluster, we are working collaboratively with Beverley School, Green Lane Primary Academy and Ayresome School to support each other in developing a wildlife corridor in this area of Middlesbrough. Our students had an amazing day in the sunshine, developing their horticultural skills. They were assisted by volunteers from One Planet Middlesbrough(MEC), who have supported us throughout this project and Emma Hawthorne our Polli:Nation coordinator.



This project aims to give our students an appreciation of the importance of pollination in our lives and to understand how the balance of biodiversity can be sustained. It also allows them the opportunity to take part in creating a legacy for the future. We are all looking forward to seeing our Wild Flower Orchard burst into colour and life in the coming months.