While bugs might make many shy away and shudder, not so Ella Doyle.
For the eight-year-old County Armagh girl knows all-too-well their importance and has created a sanctuary of sorts in her garden.
And it is that recognition and resolve to do her bit that has seen the Middletown schoolgirl named as a finalist in a prestigious UK-wide initiative.
Now open to a public vote, if she wins the GoHenry Dream Big Competition, she will pocket £1,000 to help bring her inspiring project, ‘Ella’s Wildlife Heroes’, to life.
Ella was selected as a finalist in the ‘Community’ category after sharing her dream of helping children discover just how important bugs, bees and wildlife really are.
“My biggest dream is to travel around the world with my family helping animals,” she said. “I know I can’t do that yet because I’m only eight, so I thought I’d start in my own back garden.
“I want to help children see that bugs aren’t scary. They’re really important and, if we all help nature a little bit, together we can make a really big difference.”
Already, Ella has built a bug house, planted wildflowers for bees and butterflies, designed her own wildlife garden and, with help from her dad, is planning to build a wildlife pond. She also loves teaching her younger brother and sister about insects and showing them why even the smallest creatures deserve looking after.
Ella with wildflowers planted in her garden.
Inspired by David Attenborough and her love of nature, Ella hopes to encourage other children to become Wildlife Heroes by creating fun activity kits filled with her own wildlife drawings, bug treasure hunts, wildflower seeds and simple activities families can enjoy together.
If Ella wins the £1,000 prize, she plans to visit wildlife centres and nature reserves to learn more about insects and pollinators, create Wildlife Hero Kits to inspire children and families, build a Wildlife Hero Garden, and sell some of her kits at local community events to raise money for Buglife, helping protect insects and their habitats.
Ella’s family are so proud of her achievements and attitude and hope that people will rally round in support and cast their vote.
Mum Louise said: “Like any parent, you hope your child grows up believing that anything’s possible and that they can make a real difference.
“This competition has genuinely helped Ella dream bigger and watching her confidence grow has been incredible. She’s gone from having an idea to spending every day outside checking her bug house, planting flowers, drawing wildlife and teaching her little brother and sister about insects.
“Whether she wins or not, she’s already inspired our family to look at nature differently, and we’d love to see her inspire lots more children to do the same.”
The GoHenry Dream Big Competition celebrates young people across the UK who are making a positive difference in their communities by turning their ideas into action.
Public voting is now open until 29 July, and every vote helps Ella get one step closer to bringing Ella’s Wildlife Heroes to life and inspiring more children to care for the wildlife on their own doorstep.
You can help Ella make a difference by voting here.
