BEES, butterflies and beetles were at the heart of a bid to brighten up The Stinky organised for the children of Marston.

Youngsters from New Marston Primary School and the Northway and Marston Children’s Centre planted wild flowers in Peasmoor Piece Nature Reserve.

Oxford city councillor for parks and green spaces Mark Lygo organised the event, which he hopes will be the first of many, to brighten up the area and teach lessons about pollination.

Mr Lygo, who is also on the county council, financed the outing on Thursday with £200 of his councillor’s budget.

He said: “Historically Peasmoor has always been known as The Stinky.

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“So we hope that by planting these wild flowers, the area [will change] visually and people will be able to see what we’re doing.”

The county councillor for Marston and Northway said, as well as making the area more beautiful, the wildlife day also had an important role to play in teaching the next generation about pollination.

He added: “That’s why it’s so important. Bee populations are on the decline and we need to teach children about the importance that wild flowers and pollination has to our ecosystem.”

Pollination is the process of pollen being transferred from one part of a plant to another, resulting in fertilization and reproduction. Pollen is also used by bees to feed colonies.

Families planted Meadow Buttercups, Corn Poppies and Autumn Hawkbit’s to help pollinating insects.

Old Marston resident Charlane Masih went to the planting with her two-year-old son Daniel.

The 34-year-old mother-of-one said: “I thought it was a wonderful event. David thoroughly enjoyed it, he was planting the flower bulbs and scattering the seedlings.

“He’s a bit young to understand the reason why we’re doing this, but I’m looking forward to bringing him back next year and showing him the flowers he planted.”

City council countryside supervisor Julian Cooper helped the parents and children plant the flowers.

The 46-year-old said: “The day was a great success. The education part of the day was very important because it’s not just about younger people, it’s about the whole family.

“If a child plants a hanging basket full of wild flowers and their parents see it, that may inspire them to plant more.

“You don’t a lot of space to do it.”