A Fairytale “Happy Butterflies”
Once upon a time, there was a dramatic and unprecedented decline in bee and butterfly populations. … While intensive agriculture and the massive use of pesticides were believed to be the chief culprits, climate change issues were also contributing factors.
Farmers and Bee-keepers of Pasvalys became concerned because of the decrease of the pollinators in the area. Unfortunately for butterflies, they were also an important member of the food chain – a food source for birds, spiders, lizards, mice and other animals. Butterflies and bees are sensitive to habitat and climate change, so they were in danger. You might not like caterpillars eating plants in your garden, but without them you wouldn’t have butterflies. So what? Well, butterflies do more for us than just adding colour and beauty to our gardens -they pollinate plants!
Thus, Proving how butterflies and bees can help the environment was an activity partly integrated into Science lessons and partly done individually at home.
As a result, useful findings, interesting facts and photos were collected.
Until help could arrive, Bees and butterflies were in danger; They could not find enough bee and butterfly-friendly gardens near them. Then people brought in new plants and removed native species. Due to the climate change many of the species were unable to migrate when and where they need to. Farmers used too much insecticides and pesticides causing damage to pollinators
OSS team decided we can help by providing the right habitat for Bees and Butterflies Altogether we planted many butterfly gardens It was a lengthy process. First, we found out what plants are bee and butterfly- friendly. then, we wanted to find a seed shop, a nursery or website that sell the seeds or butterfly-friendly plants; buy the seeds, plant them , watch them grow and attract bees and butterflies.
In the process we involved some stakeholder companies to support the mission.
- “The Darius Agro “company holding an agricultural business in Pasvalys and in other parts of Lithuania got interested and agreed to be a partner. They offered to provide seeds and other necessary material. They also advertised the idea of the “Butterfly” Mission among farmers. Some big farmers of Pasvalys area agreed to support the “Butterfly” mission by not applying pesticides and herbicides to some places of their fields and thus attracting and preserving pollinators.
A farmer Vilhelminas Janusonis agreed to share his thoughts about his support to our project and about the importance of pollinators to the agriculture ( coming soon). The
Mission “Butterfly” continued to develop and grow. OSS Team organized the “Butterfly”outdoor painting and drawing activity to attract more students to our mission, so that it could become more community-based and oriented. By doing this activity we aimed to attract attention to pollination and to show people the necessity of saving Bees and Butterflies
Aiming to spread the ideas of mission “Butterfly”, we contacted the neighbouring community situated not far from Pasvalys; The team presented our project and gave a brief explanation about the project’s aims, ideas and experience so far; During the meeting all participants were awarded with the set of bee and butterfly-friendly seeds.
Our idea to encourage pollination has spread widely; A big agricultural seed-producing company ”ASEJA” supported us by sending a whole box of bee and butterfly- friendly seeds;
We are proud to have developed another connection with the community partner. We can see that our mission”Butterfly” is really meaningful. Many teachers and family members supported our mission. Thus, we planted Bee and Butterfly gardens by the school and in a few households. We also could spend some time observing the bees and butterflies; We took many nice pictures and made some videos; It was understood that spending time in nature – even just watching butterflies in a garden – is good for our mental health. The Team did a lot of good things for the community and environment.
Everybody lived happily again. The idea of attracting and preserving pollinators met so much support that one of the grateful bee keepers Vaidas Baliunas awarded the team with 10 liters of honey. The honey is still waiting for the winners of Butterfly drawing competition and for the best photographs taken in the households and homesteads. These 2 competitions will be organized in the nearest future and will become a final step and a conclusion of the most succesful our mission “Butterfly”.
To be continued.
BEES AND BUTTERFLIES FEEL VERY GRATEFUL TO ERASMUS + PROJECT FOR THE SUPPORT J
By Levens School’s team J
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