Case Study - The BumbleBee Ambassadors

Programme: Your Heritage
Applicant: The BumbleBee Alliance cic
Grant awarded: £49,700
Project length: 2 years

BumbleBee Ambassadors - printable (MS Word, 333KB)

Summary

The BumbleBee Alliance, a Community Interest Company (cic), worked with over 280 young people aged 5 – 19. Pupils at the Wyvern Primary & Secondary Schools have severe and complex learning needs (autism and Asperger’s Syndrome) and physical disabilities. The purpose was to provide active learning opportunities in the heritage of Kent’s fruit and vegetable growing. Kent has historically been associated with the cultivation of fruit and vegetables which are therefore part of the county’s heritage and community economy. There has been a recent decline in the varieties grown and also a decline in number of bees, with two species now extinct. As well as encouraging the young people to participate in their local heritage, this project, therefore, helped to conserve some of these traditional varieties. The project took place in 6 acres of land within the schools’ grounds and enabled the young people to take an active role in the formation of a vegetable garden, fruit orchard, and bee and insect sanctuary.

The aims of the project

Formation of a vegetable garden and planting and harvesting activity, enabling everyone whatever their abilities to participate.
The selection of types of fruit trees and then the planting of a fruit orchard with young people actively taking part in both selection and planting.
Creation of a bee and insect habitat sanctuary with the dual purpose of linking the garden / orchard with essential pollinators and prevention of the rapid reduction in numbers in Kent.
Cookery classes demonstrating the links between the growth of the fruit and vegetables and healthy eating, and those between healthy eating and health and well-being.

Benefits for heritage

The creation of the vegetable garden and fruit orchard will ensure that traditional varieties specifically linked to Kent will be sustained for future generations.
The creation of a permanent bee sanctuary will ensure that the species have an ideal habitat where bees can multiply into healthy numbers.

Benefits for people

The project involved a large number of volunteers including parents and relatives of the school children, volunteers from The BumbleBee Alliance cic and school staff working out of hours.
Three young people involved in the previously funded HLF project ‘Wings of Discovery’ acted as ‘Exemplar Tutors’ to the young people on this project.
The project increased participation in heritage through involving a fairly large socially excluded group of disabled children.
• The project also involved the local community and local mainstream schools who were encouraged to participate, thus encouraging integration and understanding of the needs of the disabled young people.
‘One particular boy was totally uncommunicative and would not get involved with any of the school activities until our project came along’ – Project Leader

Lessons learnt

We have found the children to be resilient and willing to take on what seem to be impossible tasks.
Considerable unforeseen additional extra human resource time has been required to meet the needs of the children.

Long term benefits

The growing practices within the project have become embedded in the culture of the school, the local community and mainstream schools which participated.
The project has enabled young people to improve their skills in gardening and take on gardening as a full time hobby.
As a result of the project, they are using some of the practical skills that the young people are learning to offer some sort of accreditation within the school.

The budget

Main project costs	£	Funding	£
Equipment incl. tools	2,200	Other grants/cash	2,500
Seeds, plants etc.	4,200	Non-cash contributions	10,150
Staff costs	32,490	HLF grant (80%)	49,700
Disability support costs	4,900
		Total costs	62,350

Young participants show off their produce

Sector

Land and Biodiversity

Activity

Participation; Learning