Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565

Environment Minister Edwin Poots recently visited Fleming Fulton School which has benefited from his Schools Pollinator initiative.

The School Pollinator Garden scheme launched in spring 2022 and is delivered on the ground by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and offering grants of between £3,000 and £12,000 to successful applicants. The £2.4million scheme is specifically for schools to improve the health of our bees and pollinators and help protect our eco-systems.

Minister Poots said: “Yet again we see the Schools Pollinator scheme bear fruit with our young people applying their environmental dedication to help improve the future environment at their schools. To date 302 schools have received offers from the Schools Pollinator schemes. Earlier in the year I saw early on the high levels of demand in the scheme and its potential so I increased the budget from £1.9-£2.4million so more schools and school children could benefit for years to come.

“I saw first-hand the benefits in action at Fleming Fulton, which illustrates how a range of age-groups of school children from tots to teens are enjoying an enhanced education environment thanks to new pollinator garden facilities under the scheme at their schools.

Environment Minister Edwin Poots pictured with Phil Maxwell (teacher) from Fleming Fulton school in Belfast touring the site of the Fleming Fulton’s planned pollinator garden

'Play in Hospital' Week brings joy to local children

“I was struck by the level and dedication of the pupils’ pollinator garden plans and how the school has been able to integrate the scheme with many aspects of the curriculum. Pollinator gardens are a fantastic asset to our schools and community alike and I’ve no doubt our young pollinator champions will make great use of them.”

Fleming Fulton School Belfast received a school pollinator garden grant of £11,500.

School Pollinator Scheme has Fleming Fulton buzzing