• A container or large plant pot with drainage holes or a space in the ground measuring approximately 30cm x 30cm (if your container has holes bigger than 2.5cm use broken pots or stones to cover the holes)
• Peat-free multi-purpose compost (for container seed sowing)
• Hand fork or trowel
• Saucer or dish to empty your seeds into
• Your RHS Grow With It seeds (chive, cosmos and cornflower) or other pollinator friendly seeds
• Watering can with a rose
• Plant labels and pencils
• Gardening gloves

• RHS Grow With It PowerPoint presentation
• Sowing seeds in the ground instructions
• Widgits for sowing seeds in the ground
• Sowing seeds in a container instructions
• Widgits for sowing seeds in a container
• Key words Widgit map
• Plant labels
• RHS Grow With It certificate

Introduction

• Explain what pollinators are, why they are important and how they help us
• Ask children to look out of the window – can they see any flowers for pollinating insects?
• Explain that there is a lack of pollen and nectar-rich flowers available in many places for pollinating insects
• Ask children to think of any ways we can help pollinating insects
• Refer to our PowerPoint for more information on pollinators and how to help them

Main activity

Helping pollinators with RHS Grow With It

• Introduce RHS Grow With It, an annual programme which supports people all over the UK to get growing and to connect with people through plants. Explain that this year RHS Grow With It is inviting everyone to make a BIG difference by growing plants in small spaces
• Tell the children that they can make a small space at school pollinator-friendly by sowing seeds. Explain that the seeds they sow will grow into flowers that pollinating insects will feed from
• After they’ve sown their seeds, they will add their school to the RHS Grow With it map

1. Sow your seeds

Download our seed sowing instructions to find out how to sow your seeds in a container or in the ground.

You could also:

• Make a sign to tell other people in your school that these seeds will grow into flowers to help pollinators
• Plant any leftover seeds into small pots to give to friends and family members. Let them know that the pot needs to be kept outside in a nice sunny spot so that pollinating insects will be able to visit the flowers when they grow

• Helping your plants grow: if it hasn’t rained, water your seeds and plants as they grow. While the plants are small, use a watering can with the rose turned upwards so that there is a gentle flow of water

2. Label your seeds

It’s important to label your seeds so that you remember what you have sown, and where. This also lets others know where there are plants growing.

Use the printable labels provided as part of this lesson to label your seeds – or create your own. A plant label should include:

• Name of plant
• Date seeds were sown

You can also add a picture of the plant. You could add some care tips, such as how often the plant needs watering.

3. Plot your pollinator pocket garden on the RHS Grow With It map

Once you’ve sown your seeds, it’s time to put your space on the map. Use the link or scan the QR code (in the PowerPoint) to open the form. You will be able to add your school’s location and show everyone which seeds you’ve sown in your space.

As more people take action by sowing a small space for pollinators, the RHS Grow With It map will show the difference we are all making together.

Plenary

In pairs pupils discuss other spaces they know that could be transformed for pollinating insects. You could also use these RHS Grow With It certificates to recognise pupils' participation.

Assessment questions

• How will the seeds you have planted today support pollinating insects in your community? 
• Do you need a large growing space to make a difference to pollinating insects?  
• How does sowing seeds for pollinators make us active citizens?

• Share your knowledge and new seed-sowing skills with another class and encourage them to sow a small space of their own
• Hold a seed growing competition between classes or across the whole school
• Alternative materials to cover larger drainage holes could include large gravel or small bricks
• Water your plants regularly, especially during dry spells. Be planet-friendly gardeners by using rainwater you have collected