The bushy local environment is one of the drawcards of living in and around Epping. Preserving and enhancing gardens, verges, public spaces and bush land is aided by encouraging local pollinators – birds, bees and insects. That’s where a B&B highway comes in.

Recently, Community Bank Epping awarded a grant to not-for-profit organisation Planting Seeds, for a project placing their B&B Highway into three local education hubs – including Epping Public School and North Epping Public.

B&B Highway (standing for Bed and Breakfasts for Birds, Bees and Biodiversity) is a program where educators run school incursions that include indoor and outdoor learning for students across the grades.

The course was run recently at Epping Public School. Children heard about biodiversity and its importance, and then got a chance to get their hands dirty and planted a new section of garden with habitat to encourage pollinators. The students can now watch as their efforts lead to a lovely new area on site, and improved diversity in the area.

The program has already been run at Essex Street Kindy (starting the conversation with young children is important) and will run shortly at North Epping Public School, where there is a wonderful community garden on site.

This project is only one of many grants Community Bank Epping has given to local schools over the last year. You can read about some of the other initiatives here.