We are delighted to be taking part in Polli:Nation, a heritage lottery funded biodiversity and education project.



We are delighted to be taking part in Polli:Nation, a heritage lottery funded biodiversity and education project. Working in collaboration with three other local schools, Macmillan Academy is aiming to engage and enthuse students to protect pollinating species and increase the number and diversity of pollinating insect species within our school grounds.

Children from our cluster schools, Green Lane Primary Academy and Beverley School visited our Eco-Garden to see the development of a new apothecary garden area. They were enthusiastic to get involved in planting native lavender and discussed with us some of the changes they are making to their own school grounds as part of the Polli:Nation project.

We were supported by Whitegates Nursery in the purchase of the medicinal plants. Volunteers from One Planet Pioneers (MEC) worked alongside students to give them direct hands-on-experience on how to develop a garden that will attract more pollinator species.

In addition to the apothecary garden , as part of the Polli:Nation project we are in the process of developing a wild flower orchard. Macmillan students from our Eco-Council and Eco-Squad have been involved in planting and caring for over 20 fruit trees including crab apple and pears. A baseline survey was carried out in both areas before development so that we can establish the beneficial effects on biodiversity in the future. We are looking forward to scattering our wild flower seeds in early Spring and harvesting fruit to be used by students in their food technology lessons next autumn.