Butterflies and biodiversity: Tresham College students celebrate the beauty of nature

Students and staff across Tresham College’s Kettering, Corby and Wellingborough campuses came together throughout May to celebrate Biodiversity Month.

This included a series of activities designed to encourage environmental awareness, community connection and sustainability.

The month-long programme included wildlife workshops, seed planting, biodiversity-themed projects and the creation of time capsules, giving students the opportunity to explore the importance of protecting nature and supporting local ecosystems.

The celebrations also paid tribute to Sir David Attenborough following his 100th birthday earlier this month, recognising his lifelong contribution to environmental education and conservation.

One of the centrepieces of the initiative was the placement of time capsules at each campus, containing letters, artwork and items contributed by students and curriculum departments to reflect life at Tresham in 2026 and hopes for the future.

Engineering students at the Corby campus supported the project by designing commemorative engraved plaques for the capsules. The winning design, created by Level 3 engineering student Noah Martin, was selected for use across all three sites.

The programme also welcomed local organisations and wildlife specialists into the college to give students hands-on learning experiences.

Students also met local entomologist Suzie Askew from Stoned Affection, who brought along butterflies, moths and caterpillars for an interactive workshop exploring the important role insects play within the ecosystem.

Suzie said:

“Being able to show young people just how important insects are to our environment is something I’m incredibly passionate about.

“I hope the experience encouraged students to appreciate the smaller creatures that play such a vital role in supporting biodiversity.”

The initiative brought together students and staff from a range of curriculum areas including engineering, IT, English, health and social care, while promoting wellbeing, enrichment and environmental awareness across the college community.

Tresham College said the project had been a positive way to connect students across all three campuses while encouraging conversations around sustainability, biodiversity and the future of the environment.

Find out more

To find out more about Tresham College visit: https://bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk/colleges-and-campuses/tresham-college/