Building a Butterfly House on the Park

Bronze CREST award winner, Elina, in Year 7 has paved the way for a butterfly house to be built in the Fryer Orchard as part of the School’s Park Life project, a nature watch initiative with STEAM at its centre. The interdisciplinary project covering many aspects of science, technology, engineering, arts and maths was launched at the start of 2020 to encompass a number of ideas to help wildlife, flora and fauna thrive on the Park.

Elina’s project includes a carefully designed haven for butterflies, complete with the insect’s favourite shrub, Buddleia, and netted windows with perches. Elina has long been interested in butterfly conservation, since carrying out research on the subject at her prep school, Crosfields.

She remarked, “I like the species and in my project I looked at how climate change might impact the population of butterflies.” Speaking about the positive and negative impacts of global warming she continued, “The climate has helped in some countries, but in a lot of places it has caused real damage.” With the help of the Park Life project, it is hoped that Elina’s concept will be transformed from design to reality.

Mark Budge, Park Life mastermind and Club STEAM co-ordinator, commented, “We are so proud of Elina in Club STEAM. She has worked hard on this project at our afternoon activity all year and more than deserves this award. Club STEAM is all about allowing students to explore their passions, whatever they are, as a structured project and Elina is a perfect example of this ethos. It also does not stop here. Next year, we hope to help her build it!”

Recently receiving her certificate from CREST, after submitting her project entitled ‘Butterfly Population and Climate Change’ in the Spring Term, Elina was delighted to see her efforts rewarded. CREST is the British Science Association’s nationally recognised scheme for STEM project work that inspires young people to think and behave like scientists and engineers.

Elina’s application to the Bronze level award was facilitated by Club Steam which is a co-curricular hobby aiming to support students pursue their individual interests in any area of STEAM, through weekly meetings and bespoke mentoring. “This is a fantastic achievement.” commented Karen Gracie-Langrick, Deputy Head: Academic.