Four Grade 11 students at Summerland Secondary School are creating a fedge, a community garden and learning centre, to raise awareness about the extreme decline of pollinator populations.
The garden will be set up on Main Street near the IOOF Hall. It will display plants and pollinators native to Summerland and the area. They have already been preparing the area, pulling weeds and removing dead plants.
In addition, the students will have a display set up at the Sunday market next month to raise awareness of bee habitat concerns.
Emma Russill, Zoe Martell, Tula Thurlin and Helena Mott are participating in the Summerland Rotary Club’s $100 Challenge.
Teams of students receive $100, which they use for fundraising efforts for the charity of their choice.
The students chose to raise money and awareness of bees after a science teacher discussed the problems in a classroom.
In spring, bees play an important role in pollinating plants. Declining and at-risk bee populations will have an effect on agriculture.
“The pollinators population and how it’s declining is very concerning for us in Summerland,” Thurlin said.
The students will have bee hotels for sale at the market on June 11. These are blocks of wood with holes drilled into them, to serve as homes for bees. Mott said bees take shelter in dead trees and grasses with hollow stems.
Students will also sell plants, honey, apples and wine barrel wood items. They will provide face painting and balloons for children.
In addition to selling the bee hotels, the students are also planning a workshop to teach people how to make the hotels.
Dionne Bakalos of the Summerland Rotary Club said she is pleased with the efforts of the students.
“The students have displayed excellent communication and delegation skills, creativity, responsibility and have been positive and motivated to get the job done,” she said.
The students are looking for someone to help with the bee hotel wood workshop to be held at the market. They are also looking for a market tent to borrow for the event.
Anyone able to help with the workshop or provide a tent is asked to contact Bakalos at 778-516-5888.