All early years children should ideally have ‘access to an outdoor play area’, states the EYFS. Children need to be able to observe ‘animals and plants and explain why some things occur and talk about changes’, according to Development Matters (Understanding the World). It suggests children are capable of caring for flowerbeds. We argue that this ‘caring’ needs to translate into understanding why flowers are important to the planet.
Bees
Sadly, of the 26 bumble bee species noted in the UK 80 years ago, two are now extinct and another six are dwindling. Honey bee numbers have dropped from 250,000 in the 1950s to fewer than 100,000 today, partly through pesticides use.
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