Pollinating People Place

Group stood in front of community centre

The Workers Educational Association, or WEA, is a leading adult education charity that is working to bring high-quality adult education within the reach of anyone who needs it, fighting inequality, and promoting social justice. They offer accessible and friendly courses for adults from within communities across the UK.

For their Community Pollinator Fund "Pollinating People Place" project, WEA partnered with St Mungo’s (opens in new tab), the nationwide homelessness charity, and Nature Connection CIC (opens in new tab) to create a multipurpose outdoor space supporting both pollinators and the Bristol community in BS2. It focused on providing urban pollinator-friendly habitats, combining a new green roof with wildflower walls.

The project takes place at the back entrance of the WEA building in Bristol, a space that was originally home to a grassroots green social prescribing project involving local learners. Previous efforts included creating window boxes made from donated waste materials, a bird box, and a bird table, all designed to promote biodiversity in a socially deprived area of the city. This project built upon these earlier initiatives, expanding the green space and incorporating more pollinator-friendly elements.

The planting and design of the space are incorporated into the WEA Adult Education curriculum as an enrichment activity, encouraging learners to actively participate in creating positive environmental change. This collaborative approach fosters a sense of ownership over the space and builds community engagement. So far, 127 volunteers have been involved, many of which commenting about the personal benefits they have experienced since getting involved, including feeling more connected to nature and their community.

Stephanie Brazell, Progression Coach, St Mungo’s Charity:

“It’s been amazing watching clients from across our services get involved in the Pollinator Project. Seeing their creativity come out and their confidence grow, being taught about nature, picking up new skills and learning from one another. It has improved our wellbeing and given us a sense of purpose on a Weds afternoon when we all come together, a proper little community.”

St Mungos volunteer

“[The project] has improved my mental health, nature makes me feel optimistic. When I have had a hard week, this makes me feel better”

Feedback from St. Mungo's staff

"Spending time with you all was amazing, having something look forward to each week, being out of the office. Learnt a lot from classroom session and learning from each other. I loved the painting, the creative side, stencilling, working as a team, encouraging, supporting each other. Inspiring!"