Ella’s Kitchen and the RSPB launch new community project to help little ones fall in love with nature

Ella’s Kitchen and the RSPB are building on their partnership with the launch of Little Creators for Pollinators - a new community initiative designed to inspire the next generation to protect birds, bees, and bugs.

Running from now until October 2025, the six-month programme invites families, nurseries, and schools across Greater Manchester and Kirklees to get hands-on with nature.

Sessions take place at Dove Stone nature reserve - where Ella’s Kitchen are supporting the transformation an area of grassland the size of 68 football pitches - and outreach locations across the region, bringing nature connection directly into the local community.

Led by an Outdoor Wellbeing Practitioner and guided by the Pathways to Nature Connection framework, the sessions offer a mix of imaginative play and practical activities.

Children will create giant bee sculptures for Holmfirth Arts Festival and help restore pollinator habitats through activities such as planting wildflowers and making seed bombs.

Other activities include a ‘bee-less picnic’ to highlight the key role pollinators play in our food supply, making cyanotype butterfly art, pressing apples from Dove Stone’s orchard, and collecting seeds to sow next spring - completing the cycle of growth and renewal.

Chris Jenkins, Global Head of Impact at Ella’s Kitchen, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our long-standing partnership with the RSPB, and this new initiative is a natural extension of our shared vision to champion and inspire a love of nature in little ones.

“At Ella’s Kitchen, we believe every child deserves to grow up on a healthy planet that has plenty of food and is buzzing with life.

"We know that the more time children spend outdoors, the more likely they are to grow up caring for the world around them.”

“This is a fantastic way to continue building on our joint Ella's Kitchen x RSPB ‘30 by 30’ pledge - which is seeing us work together to restore 30 million square feet of wildflower meadows across the UK by 2030, protecting the habitats of birds, bees, and bugs for future generations to enjoy.”

Dave Bloor, Head of Corporate Partnerships at the RSPB, added: “A thriving natural world is only possible if people feel close to and understand nature.

"We need people of all ages, from every possible background to act.

“Our work with Ella’s Kitchen at Dove Stone shows the power of partnership - not just for wildlife, but for communities too.

"Little Creators for Pollinators helps children and families engage with nature in meaningful ways, while making a practical contribution to local conservation.”

Miriam Biran, RSPB Lead Project Officer at Dove Stone, said: “Little Creators for Pollinators builds on impactful wildflower restoration work already taking place at Dove Stone thanks to Ella’s Kitchen.

"So far, we have worked with the local community adding over 7000 plug plants to enhance species-poor grassland at the reserve.

"This project will allow us to go even further to help our pollinators by raising awareness, planting more wildflowers, and inspiring children and families to take action for nature.

“We’ll be running family-friendly drop-in activities over the summer, and uniform groups and family-focused community groups can book sessions directly through me to join in the buzz!”

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