Primary school children help create a healthier environment through a planting project

Fourteen Utrecht schools participate in the first round of a special experiment. Children fill pots with soil and place them in the school playground. They don’t plant any seeds, but they water the pots regularly. After six weeks, they take photos of whatever has sprouted. What exactly grows there, and what does it tell us about the world we live in?

Pupils from grades 6, 7 and 8 are taking part in Aanwaaiers, a citizen science project run by Utrecht University and led by ecologist Monique de Jager. She is researching how well plants are still able to spread in today’s world.

The journey of a seed

Unlike animals or humans, plants can’t walk or fly to new places, so their seeds have to do the travelling for them. The wind carries them along, (rain)water washes them away, or they cling to clothing and even to the soles of shoes. The better a plant is at spreading its seeds, the greater its chances of survival. As nature in cities becomes increasingly fragmented, De Jager wonders whether plants are still able to spread well enough in order to persist.

Schools taking part in the Aanwaaiers project receive bags of soil and pots. They deliberately don’t sow anything, only adding water. After six weeks, the children send in their photos.

In total, we've identified sixty different species.

“It’s a sort of surprise garden,” De Jager says enthusiastically. “Each school discovers something different. We’re finding out which seedlings have been blown into the pots by the wind and have managed to grow. It’s very simple, but it tells us a great deal about how plants spread and survive.”

The results reveal how many seeds travel through the air and that, in turn, tells us something about local biodiversity. “We want to find out whether enough seeds are still being dispersed in cities, or whether nature has become too fragmented,” De Jager explains. “That way, we can help municipalities take a more targeted approach to greening their environments.”

More than a nature lesson

The first results are surprising. In the pots from the initial fourteen schools, more than a thousand plants have grown. “In total, we’ve identified sixty different species,” says De Jager. “Mostly grasses, willows and dandelions.”

She clearly enjoys working with primary schools. “Together, we’re contributing to knowledge that can help make our cities greener, healthier and more liveable. I hope more schools in Utrecht will sign up. It requires very little effort, but the rewards are enormous.”

Beyond the research itself, the project also has an important educational purpose. “We’re helping children connect with nature and with science,” De Jager explains. “They discover how plants spread — and that growth takes time. It’s a valuable lesson, not only about plants, but also about patience: step by step, you can achieve your goals.”