Charmouth Primary School recently received a Wessex Watermark Award of £150 in recognition of their efforts in creating a Butterfly Garden. Clive Farrell, on behalf of David Bellamy, who also congratulated the Head Teacher, Chris Vincent, and the Project teacher, Myra Sealy, presented the cheque to the children at a special ceremony. He commented that the children had all worked extremely hard planning, planting and tending the garden, not only for the benefit of the butterflies and moths, but also for the enjoyment of all who passed by on their way into the school.

A moth trap was opened for all to enjoy and wonder at. Clive also brought 160 Small Tortoisehell butterflies, one for each of the children to release. The joy on their faces was wonderful to behold. The garden has an easterly aspect and is approximately 7 m by 4 m. The garden has many butterfly friendly plants including Buddleia, Nettles, Nasturtium, Hebe and Jack-by-the-Hedge. In the school grounds there is also a wonderful wild flower meadow bank (7 m by 30 m) full of Cowslips and Birdsfoot Trefoil.

Myra explains that this cross-curricular project approach to learning with the children has so many benefits for them. Not only does it provide opportunities for experiencing the life cycle of the butterfly from egg to flying adult, but also how they interact with birds, dragonflies and snails. There are also the other activities of planning the garden and actually getting the hands dirty, planting the seeds and watering the plants. But all aspects of the learning process are exercised from the hands-on to observation and recording and research by book with reading and computer Internet searches. It is this holistic approach which catches the imagination of many different children and builds a team.

The Dorset Branch of Butterfly Conservation is delighted with the way the school and particularly the 7 - 11 year old children have responded to their challenges. They have made excellent use of the specialist support and basic expertise we have been able to provide for their project together with information packs, talks and walks with the children. Long may this seed of enthusiasm grow in them.

For more information about this project, please visit www.charmouth.dorset.sch.uk