The new garden with planter boxes, garden beds and a rock walkway were designed and built by Year 1 STEM students and their Year 8 buddies.

Year 1 teacher Kristie Schulz said the program has been a joyful learning experience for the school and a meaningful environmental initiative.

“Back in Term Two, we started teaching the kids about bees and they really took to it,” Ms Schulz said.

“The class quickly learnt that the high school campus had bee hives, and they wanted their own to visit.”

As a bid to secure a bee hive of their own, the Year 1 class nominated two Ambuzzadors to lead the Friendly Bee Garden project.

This year, Parklands Christian College was one of 21 community groups to receive a $500 Community Tree Grant from the Wheen Bee Foundation.

“This was the kickstart the project needed,” Ms Schulz said.

“We advertised our grant and very quickly other sponsors wanted to get on board.”

In the end, the project received $7,000 from more than 30 sponsors including local businesses and school families.

For Installation Day, the Year 1 students were paired with a Year 8 buddy and together they planted more than 450 plants including silver wattle, bottle brushes, native violets, kangaroo paw and paper daisies.

And already the Friendly Bee Garden is giving back.

“We’ve seen a huge increase in bugs visiting our garden,” Ms Schulz said.

“Heaps more natives bees are buzzing by, yesterday the kids spotted a Christmas beetle and this morning I had a praying mantis in my hair.”

Beyond benefiting the pollinators, this project has fostered connectedness between students.

One of the lead Year 8 buddies was Carmen who before the Friendly Bee Garden, had never met any of the Year 1 students.

“Quickly my favourite part of the project was working with Finley. She’s goofy, energetic and has great leadership skills,” Carmen said.

“Watching her as an ambuzzador has been cool and I’m happy that she’s my new primary school friend.”

The buddy system has helped boost the younger students’ confidence and inspired initiative from the older students.

Since 2023, the Community Tree Grants have helped launch pollinator-friendly projects while also deepening community ties across Australia.

Wheen Bee Foundation CEO Fiona Chambers said nurturing connection has always been another focus of the grants.

“Parklands Christian College’s Friendly Bee Garden exemplifies the Community Tree Grants program,

“The garden provides essential resources and shelter to our precious pollinators and has been a true act of collaboration,” Ms Chambers said.

Applications for the new round will open on 19 May 2025. Subscribe to the Wheen Bee Foundation’s newsletter to hear the latest news and updates.

Learn more about the grants here, wheenbeefoundation.org.au/our-work/projects/community-tree-grants/

The Friendly Bee Garden. Image: Stephen Schulz Photography.

Year 8 student, Carmen and Year 1 student, Finley with member of the Wheen Bee Foundation board, Dr Diana Leemon. Image: Stephen Schulz Photography.