Building Bamboo Homes for Bees: Primary School “Footprint” Project
Did you know that the health of humans and the health of bees and other pollinators around the world are dependent on one another?
Pollination is fundamental to the survival of our ecosystems. According to the United Nations, “90% of the world’s wild flowering plant species depend, entirely, or at least in part, on animal pollination, along with more than 75% of the world’s food crops and 35% of global agricultural land.” In other words, pollinators contribute directly to global food security as well as to the conservation of biodiversity.
Understanding the vital role bees play in our world was a major motivator for Green School’s young learner, Alma, who chose to help the humble bee for her primary school capstone – or Footprint – project. Today, in recognition of World Bee Day, we celebrate this changemaker’s inspiring efforts to support our local bee population.
Alma had the idea to make bamboo bee homes because she loves bees but was having a hard time finding any on campus. Perhaps they needed a better place to live?
So, she got to work in our iHub and is currently constructing three, cylindrical bamboo bee houses, about 15x15cm in size. The bee houses are designed to attract a special, stingless honey bee known as the “trigona” bee. They will be installed in the Primary School garden (every learning neighbourhood at Green School has its own garden).
In addition, Alma will work with our gardeners and Kul Kul Connection students to teach them how to make their own bee homes from bamboo and how to mix the special water and sugar concoction that will attract them into the cylinders. Alma’s creations will serve as a safe space for our bees to reproduce and nurture new generations of bee families.
It won’t be long before the local bees are “buzzing” on the front door to their new home! The Primary School Footprint capstone projects will be presented at the end of June at an exhibition-like event called Community Share – BEE sure to follow along on social for when we share the finished product!
