Primary 5 and some of our Eco Committee braved wind and rain on Friday afternoon to plant a hedge of Grey Willow and Crab Apples in the school Eco garden. Some children were so keen that they even skipped their afternoon play to continue working. The Eco Committee decided that we should plant a native species hedge in our grounds to improve Biodiversity and provide food and shelter for birds and other small creatures.

Grey willow foliage is eaten by caterpillars of a number of moths, including the sallow kitten, sallow clearwing, dusky clearwing and lunar hornet clearwing. It is also a food plant for the purple emperor butterfly. Catkins provide an important early source of pollen and nectar for bees and other insects, and birds use grey willow to forage for caterpillars and insects.

Crab Apple leaves are food for the caterpillars of many moths, including the eyed hawk-moth, green pug, Chinese character and pale tussock. The flowers provide an important source of early pollen and nectar for insects, particularly bees, and the fruit is eaten by birds, including blackbirds, thrushes and crows. Mammals, such as mice, voles, foxes and badgers, also eat crab apple fruit.

We hope that the hedge will soon become established and will benefit the many living creatures that visit and live in St. Albert’s school grounds in the years to come.

A big thank you to our P5 pupils for their hard work and care in this project.

Miss Brooks and the Eco Committee