First, pupils join an interactive classroom program on butterflies, learning about metamorphosis and pollinator ecology with the help of unique close-up film clips from The Butterfly Man documentary.

Second, they gain hands-on experience by raising cabbage white (Pieris rapae) butterflies in class using rearing kits from project partner Dutch Butterfly Conservation, allowing them to observe the full life cycle and take responsibility for living creatures.

Third, each participating school receives a native, pesticide-free pollinator garden. Teachers and students actively co-design and plant the gardens, fostering a tangible sense of ownership. Parents take on the role of caretakers through volunteer Garden Teams, which strengthens community involvement and supports the long-term continuation of the project. By combining theory, visual storytelling, and practical action, the project directly improves pollinator habitat while inspiring the next generation of conservationists. The pilot will engage approximately 200 children and 40 parents across four schools and create about 80 m2 of new pollinator-friendly habitat.

Project objectives

By linking theory, storytelling and practical action, the project both restores urban habitat and nurtures a new generation of conservation-minded citizens. The pilot phase will engage approximately 200 children and 40 parents across four schools, creating around 80 m² of new pollinator-friendly habitat.

The main objective is to enhance urban pollinator habitats and inspire primary school children in the Netherlands to actively care for nature by engaging them directly in the creation and stewardship of pollinator-friendly school gardens.