Bristol Airport awards £12,000 to FarmLink Education Ltd to support an educational bee-hive and biodiversity project in Wrington

An innovative bee and biodiversity project in Wrington has received support from Bristol Airport to help protect and conserve the natural environment and deliver hands-on environmental education for young people.

FarmLink Education Ltd, based at Lower Stock Farm, has received £12,000 in funding from Bristol Airport’ Local Community Fund.

The funding has enabled FarmLink Education Ltd to install beehives and establish a thriving pollinator habitat, helping to protect and conserve the natural environment while delivering hands-on environmental education for young people aged 5–18 living in communities surrounding the Airport.
The project combines habitat creation with an engaging education programme delivered both on-site at the farm and in local schools. Through workshops, farm tours and assemblies, young people learn about the vital role pollinators play in sustaining ecosystems, supporting biodiversity and ensuring future food security.

FarmLink Education Ltd has a strong record of delivering environmental education sessions in the local community. Over the past academic year, the organisation has worked with more than 80 schools across Bristol, North Somerset and Somerset, delivering 112 farm tours, 226 workshops and 43 assemblies, reaching over 30,000 pupils.

The new bee project is expected to enhance this provision further, with the potential to educate around 11,000 pupils each year about the importance of bees and pollination.

Tim Ledbury, CEO at FarmLink Education Ltd, said:

“Farmlink were lucky enough to be granted £12,000 from Bristol Airport to support the development of a bio-diversity project. The project includes the installation of bee hives, the creation of a wild flower meadow, as well as the restoration of the raised bed gardens at Lower Stock Farm, Wrington. Lower Stock Farm host thousands of primary school children each year to educate them about agriculture, food production and the environment. The bee hives, wild flowers and the raised beds will play an important part in each visit teaching the children about importance of pollinators and bio-diversity for the sustainability of our environment.

"As well as teaching the children about the importance of the bees and pollinators on the farm tour, we have purchased a mobile hive and we have produced lesson plans for each key stage of education at primary school, so we can go in to the schools and teach the children about the environment whilst giving them a hands-on experience.”

Tracy Comer, Community Relations Manager at Bristol Airport, said:

“It’s great to be able to support FarmLink Education Ltd with this grant from our Local Community Fund. This project is a fantastic example of how local organisations can make a meaningful difference by enhancing the local environment while educating the next generation. We are proud to play a part in supporting such an inspiring and impactful initiative in our local community.

"The purpose of the Community Fund is to give something back to the surrounding communities. Each project can benefit from up to £15,000. It’s important that projects demonstrate they will improve, enhance or protect the natural environment. It could also be a scheme that generates renewable energy, offers transport improvements or noise mitigation. There are four rounds of funding each year with the next ones in September and December.”
 
Bristol Airport Local Community Fund and Diamond Fund

The Airport Environmental and Amenity Improvement Fund (known as the Bristol Airport Local Community Fund) was set up as one of the commitments the Airport agreed to provide in connection with its planning permission for development over the next decade.
Each year, Bristol Airport contributes £100,000 to the Bristol Airport Local Community Fund and £50,000 to the newly created Diamond Fund. The Fund’s Management Committee meets on a quarterly basis and includes representatives from both the Airport, North Somerset Council and is independently chaired.

The Bristol Airport Local Community Fund was established to invest in a range of local projects which benefit the local community and the environment. Its main purpose is to mitigate the environmental impacts of the Airport’s operations and give something back to the surrounding communities who are affected by being situated in close proximity to an international airport. The Local Community Fund has a set criteria relating to noise mitigation, transport improvements and biodiversity projects.

The Diamond Fund supports smaller sized projects in local towns and villages in the vicinity of the Airport which do not meet the criteria for the Bristol Airport Local Community Fund.
To find out more information on the new Local Community Fund and Diamond Fund, please visit the Airport’s website.