Painted ladies cause a flutter
Nov 7 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal
MORE than 200 painted ladies have landed a green award for a school.
Pupils at Leadgate County Infant and Nursery School near Consett in County Durham turned sterile land in their grounds into a garden designed to attract butterflies and bees.
But instead of waiting for the butterflies to come to the garden, the pupils hatched their own.
After ordering special butterfly kits containing eggs and net “pavilions”, each youngster had a painted lady butterfly caterpillar to care for. They watched them pupate, and when more than 200 painted lady butterflies emerged, the children released them in a colourful cloud around the garden.
The project won first prize and a £3,000 award in the Esh Charitable Trust’s Grow with Esh 2009 competition.
The awards ceremony for construction concern the Esh Group’s scheme was held at Durham University Botanic Garden.
Along with 19 other schools, Leadgate won a £1,000 “seeding” award earlier in the year for the garden.
Local businesses Phileas Fogg Company, Bamlings Contracts, Joseph Page Landscaping Ltd, Pontop Nurseries, plus pupils, parents, and friends contributed to the venture. Class teacher Lucy Cowton even dressed as a caterpillar to read the Hungry Caterpillar story to pupils.
Headteacher Margaret Jones said: “What was really exciting was that when butterflies were released, they didn’t fly away but settled on the children’s arms, hands and shoulders.
“We could never have imagined what a wonderful journey we would make in transforming a plain old plot of boring grass into such an amazingly interesting real live habitat for beautiful creatures.
“Bringing together lots of children, parents, school staff, friends, neighbours and local businesses, Grow with Esh has touched the community as well as enhancing the hands on learning experience for both adult and child.
“The children have found the project wonderful and the whole school is buzzing.”
Grow with Esh 2009 involved pupils from 20 of the region’s primary schools in projects with their teachers and communities to develop gardening and horticultural projects close to their school grounds. Trust chairman Austin Donohoe said: “Through the Grow with Esh projects which they create children and adults learn about sustainability, the environment and healthy living together.”
Competition judge Bill Sones said: “Schemes have been created which will provide benefit for years to come.
“All have been delighted to take part and are already planning for next year’s activities, regardless of this year’s result.”
