Smallest school’s bumblebee glory

Jun 26 2009 by Donald Morton, Stirling Observer Friday

STIRLING Council’s smallest primary school at Inversnaid has been awarded a special gardening award by the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society.

The four-pupil school on the banks of Loch Lomond, helped by retired Gartmore Primary School head teacher Margaret Miller, entered the Scottish Gardeners’ Forum Pallet Garden competition at the recent Gardening Scotland 2009 show in Edinburgh.

And their “Bumblebee Garden” won them a special “Silver Gilt” award.

The children worked with their “eco-adviser” Mrs Miller to choose bee friendly plants, make model bees and research fascinating facts about bumblebees and display them on flower faces in the garden.

In a report, the children said: “We were quite alarmed to discover that some bees are becoming extinct due to the use of pesticides in farming, the reduction in their natural habitats and a virus.

“We worked with Mrs Miller, our eco-advisor, and we found out lots of fascinating facts including our favourite one which is that bumblebees have smelly feet!

“But this isn’t because they wear one pair of socks too long – when they visit a flower to collect nectar, they leave behind their ‘smell’ so that other bees know not to bother visiting that plant.”

Pictured are, left to right: Jamie Carter (P4), Morgan-Leigha McPheat (P3), Annie Carter (P3) and Eilidh Walker (P6).