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Students from Bass Valley Primary School, the Flutterby Savers, have been working alongside Bass Coast Landcare Network as part of the Kids Thrive charity program Kids as Catalysts

After a successful pitch to local community members including councillors, principals and others, the students raised $50 for this project to help increase butterfly populations around the region.

The team “Flutterby Savers” have worked with Lisa Wangman and the volunteers who do the potting of plants at their nursery at the Bass Recreation Reserve.

Students worked with Landcare to research what butterfly species are located in the area, and then determined which plants would need to be planted out. The plants chosen are host plants which provide food for growing caterpillars.

“Butterflies and moths are important to the pollination of many types of plants and are an integral part of nature’s complex web. Butterflies are particularly attracted to daisy-type flowers as these provide excellent landing platforms while the butterflies are feeding,” said Lisa Wangman.

The students have each designed a planting design that will be handed out by Landcare when people purchase the Butterfly Plant Packs.

The volunteers who work at the Nursery on Fridays are keen to plant out a garden at the Reserve, and Landcare
are also looking at having the school plant out a demonstration garden at their river area so that people can see the designs when in flower. The students attended the nursery and met volunteers who they then presented their garden designs to.

Each student took it in turns to explain the process and what they wanted to achieve with the project. They then potted some seeds to start the butterfly packs that will see their project result in increased butterflies and the benefits to the environment that they bring.

Here you can see some of the designs by some students of their garden and planting designs. These plants are all available for purchase at the Landcare nursery.

The students have said they’re very excited to be a part of this project and to have been able to create something so meaningful for the environment.

“I was so proud when everyone got their money at the pitch and when I was on the radio talking about the project,” said Jaxon, a student and Flutterby Savers team member from Bass Valley Primary School.

"We are now going to work with more school groups to start growing packs of these plants to sell at our Nursery in Bass and at the River Garden, which will hopefully be available for you to use in your gardens next year, stay tuned!!"


Article Attrition: South Gippsland Sentinel Times, Wonthaggi
Photos: South Gippsland Sentinel Times & Bass Coast Landcare Network
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