Childrens’ art competition to design a postcard to be attached to wildflower seed packets

We ran an art competition open to all primary schools in Torbay. This was to design a postcard to be attached to wildflower seed packets to help people create their own patch of wildflower meadow in their gardens.

Sixty-six children took part, from which two winners were chosen. I presented these lucky winners with a large Buglife bee hotel for their school grounds and a family ticket to Paignton Zoo, kindly donated by the Zoo. The winners were as follows:

Lily Howe, Age 5. Shiphay Learning Academy.

Jack Bicknell, Age 10. Sherwell Valley Primary

We had so many lovely entries it was difficult to choose the winners. However, we chose Lily and Jack’s entries because they have bright and beautiful pictures of pollinating insects visiting flowers.

The winners and 10 other highly commended entries will feature in a touring art exhibition which will visit libraries around Torbay through the summer.

Crest Bed. Torquay

Flowers planted at Babbacombe Downs, Torquay

I met with volunteers Tim, Jo and Alan to plant some pollinator-friendly flowers at Babbacombe Downs. These included These included Armeria maritima (Thrift); Bergenia harzkristall (Elephant ear); Dahlia Merkantii ; Erigeron Sea Breeze (Fleabane); Erigeron Flettii (Fleabane); Erodium pelargoniflorum (Alpine Geraniums/Heron’s Bill); Galactites tomentosa (Variegated thistle); Geranium Sanguinium ( Bloody cranesbill); Geum Tangier (Avens); Laminum (Spotted dead nettle); Lychnis flos-cuculi (Ragged Robin); Monada (Bee Balm and Bergamot); Morinia longifolia (Nepalese thistle-like plant); Osteospermum (Tresco Purple African daisy); Phlox subulata Kimona (Low trailing phlox); Potentilla “Helen Jane” Cinquefoil; and Rehmannia elata (Chinese Foxglove).

Tim and Jo at Babbacombe.

I met with the Britain in Bloom Judges here later in the month to tell them about the Torbay’s Buzzing project.

Flowers planted at Youngs’s Park, Paignton

I met with volunteers Ruth, Sue and Steve from Young’s Park People to Plant some pollinator-friendly flowers at Young’s Park. These included Armeria maritima (Thrift); Bergenia harzkristall (Elephant ear); Dahlia Merkantii ; Ehinops tienschanicus (Globe thistle); Echinops ritro Reitchs blue (Globe thistle – Blue hedgehog); Erigeron Sea Breeze (Fleabane); Erigeron Flettii (Fleabane); Eryngium maritimum (Sea holly); Erodium pelargoniflorum (Alpine Geraniums/Heron’s Bill); Galactites tomentosa (Variegated thistle); Geranium Sanguinium ( Bloody cranesbill); Geum Tangier (Avens); Geum calthifolium (Avens); Laminum (Spotted dead nettle); Lychnis flos-cuculi (Ragged Robin); Monada (Bee Balm and Bergamot); Morinia longifolia (Nepalese thistle-like plant); Nepeta (Six hills giant); Oenothera mollis ( Evening primrose); Osteospermum (Tresco Purple African daisy); Phlox subulata Kimona (Low trailing phlox); Potentilla “Helen Jane” Cinquefoil; Rehmannia elata (Chinese Foxglove) and Rudbeckia fulguda var deamii (Deam’s coneflower).