LONGRIDGE PRIMARY SCHOOL LEFT BUZZING AFTER HONEY DIPPER DONATION FROM LOCAL DEVELOPER

Leading developer Barratt Homes has donated a number of wooden honey dippers to a primary school in Longridge to encourage children to learn about local wildlife.

Barnacre Road Primary School, located close to the developer’s Bowland Meadow development, distributed the honey dippers to the children as part of an environmental day that takes place every half term to teach them about different aspects of the environment.

The environmental days allow the children to share and display all sorts of interests and skills that are not always seen in school, allowing them to develop a good awareness of their local area and become very knowledgeable about the local plants and animals. As part of many of the fun activities planned, the children decorated their honey dippers to show off to other pupils in the school.

Fiona Heppenstall, Deputy Headteacher at Barnacre Road Primary School, said: “The children enjoyed creating various mini beasts and creatures from the honey dippers that were donated. They were very happy to find a special place on the school grounds for their ‘honey dipper’ creature.

“We would like to thank Barratt Homes for their kind donation. The children loved exploring creative ways to make their honey stick unique and special. They have brightened our school gardens and provided interest around school with children hunting for honey stick bugs!”

There are over 250 species bees in the UK, including 25 species of bumblebee, 224 species of solitary bee, and 1 species of honeybee. There has been a large decline in population numbers of bees since 1980, due to a number of factors, such as disease, climate change, pesticides, and habitat loss.

Bees are not only a crucial part of our ecosystem, but they also contribute to the world’s economy. In 2017, it was reported that pollinators such as bees are estimated to be adding up to £600 million per year to the value of UK crops through increased yield and quality.

Neil Goodwin, Managing Director at Barratt Homes Manchester, said: “Bees are a very important part of our planet, and as the UK’s leading housebuilder it is important that we use our voice to encourage people to protect them as much as possible.

“We are pleased to hear that the children at Barnacre Primary School in Longridge enjoyed the donation of honey sticks, and incorporated them into lessons about the local ecosystem. We would encourage others to follow their example and learn as much as they can about bees and other wildlife.”