It’s Planting Day for 178 schools across the UK today!
More than 18,000 bulbs will be planted by over 7,000 primary school scientists as part of this exciting outdoor investigation exploring how a changing climate affects the flowering dates of spring bulbs.

Follow the project and the experiences of our Super Scientists through this blog or on X at @ProfessorPlant.

Project team members are visiting several schools today to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Planting Day, and we look forward to receiving updates and photos from schools across the country.

Competitions and Creative Projects

Schools are invited to share their photos and creative media for our Planting Day Photo Competition. We’ll showcase the winning entries here next month!

We’re also running the Bulbcast Competition, where participating schools create short videos highlighting their favourite parts of the investigation. Resources to support this can be found here.

And for this special anniversary year, we’re thrilled to launch a Name the Daffodil Competition! Participants can suggest names for a brand-new daffodil variety commissioned to mark the 20th year of the investigation. You can see what our daffodil looks like in the attached image and find inspiration and guidance in the resource linked here. We can’t wait to see your entries!

A Special Display at St Fagans

The fantastic Gardening Team at St Fagans National Museum of History have been joining in the celebrations too! They’ve planted a commemorative display and created a beautiful woven planter for the project, which you can see in the attached images.

Get Involved

Feeling inspired? Why not plant some bulbs this October and share your images with us!
We’ll also be hosting free planting activities for families at St Fagans National Museum of History and National Museum Cardiff, where visitors can learn about plants and adopt their own baby bulbs. Find out more about how to join these sessions on our website.

Once schools have adopted and planted their bulbs, they will set up outdoor weather stations. From 3 November, they’ll collect daily weather readings every day that they are in school and upload these weekly to the Amgueddfa Cymru website. You can follow their progress here.

We’re so excited to get this year’s project underway and to share the journey with you all.

Here’s to another year of discovery, teamwork, and blooming science!

Professor Plant & Baby Bulb

Hello Bulb Buddies!

Climate Cymru’s Great Big Green Week has been running since 7th June, with people across Wales (and the UK!) coming together to help protect our planet. There are fun activities, cool events, and lots of ways for you and your school to get involved.  

What is The Great Big Green Week?

The Great Big Green Week is the UK’s biggest celebration of community action to tackle climate change and protect nature. All sorts of people are making swaps and taking small steps that make a difference to the planet. From planting flowers to picking up litter, every action counts! 

Who are Climate Cymru?

Climate Cymru is a movement made up of hundreds of organisations and thousands of people from all across Wales, working together to tackle the climate and nature emergencies. By bringing together voices from every part of Welsh society (schools, businesses, community groups, and more) Climate Cymru makes sure that everyone is heard and that leaders take meaningful action for a greener, fairer future for Wales and the planet. 

What is the Spring Bulbs for Schools Investigation?

The Spring Bulbs for Schools Investigation engages thousands of children from across the UK every year in a scientific study around the effects of climate change on the flowering dates of Spring Bulbs. Pupils adopt, care for and study their plants. They take weather readings every day that they are in school between November and March and share their findings to the Amgueddfa Cymru website. Our reports from last year’s investigation can be found here, along with many other educational resources. The bilingual reports from this year will be published in early July. 

If you’ve participated in this year’s project by planting and growing spring bulbs, then you’re already a climate champion! If you’re looking for a Great Big Green Week Action that your school could take, applications for schools in Wales are open, and you can apply here! 2025-2026 will be the 20^th anniversary year of this fantastic project!

Who are The Edina Trust?

The Edina Trust are partners and funders of Amgueddfa Cymru’s Spring Bulbs for Schools Investigation. They are a charity that helps primary schools with science by offering non-competitive grants for exciting projects like gardening, science resources, and outdoor learning. This year, schools in Denbighshire, Newport, and Torfaen can apply for Edina Trust grants, so if your school is in one of these areas, you’re guaranteed to get funding to help develop your science adventures! Find out more here!

Try the Climate Quiz by Amgueddfa Cymru!

To celebrate The Great Big Green Week, Amgueddfa Cymru (National Museum Wales) has created a special Climate Quiz just for you. It’s part of the Spring Bulbs for Schools Investigation, and it’s a fun way to test your knowledge about the climate and how we can all help protect nature.

• What's the difference between weather and climate?
• How much of the UK's total energy comes from renewable sources?
• Why are insects important for the climate?
• What actions could you take to help?

Find out by taking the quiz with your classmates or family. You might be surprised at what you learn!

Let’s Be Planet Protectors!

Remember, even small changes can make a big difference. By joining in with The Great Big Green Week and the Climate Quiz, you’re helping to raise awareness of how we can all look after the Earth for animals, plants, and people everywhere.

Share what you’ve learnt:

Tell your teacher about The Great Big Green Week and The Spring Bulbs for Schools Investigation. There are loads of great resources that can be used in class. 

Spring Bulbs for Schools

The Edina Trust

Climate Cymru

Amgueddfa Cymru School Learning

Amgueddfa Cymru Family Learning

Amgueddfa Cymru Adult Learning

Have a Great Green Week Bulb Buddies!  

Professor Plant

Results of the Super Scientist Competition 2025

Congratulations to all the fantastic schools who contributed to this years investigation. All of the schools listed below have been sent Super Scientist certificates and pencils in recognition of the great work they have done. Schools who entered the most data have been sent additional seeds to plant. The runners up received gift vouchers and the winning schools are to be awarded an extra special prize for their class. 

Schools who entered the Bulbcast competition have all been sent a special clapper board, with the winner and runner up receiving equipment to help them with future film projects. A compilation of their fantastic videos can be found at the bottom of this page. 

Professor Plant would like to thank all the schools that contributed to making this year’s investigation a success.

Enillwyr / Winners:

Cymru / Wales: 

Ysgol Tycroes

Lloegr / England: 

Stanford in the Vale Primary

Yr Alban / Scotland: 

Windyknowe Primary

Gogledd Iwerddon / Northern Ireland: 

St Mary’s Marguiresbridge Primary

Yn Ail / Runners up:

Cymru / Wales: 

Pil Primary School

Lloegr / England: 

Our Lady of the Assumption Primary

Yr Alban / Scotland: 

Gavinburn Primary 

Gogledd Iwerddon / Northern Ireland: 

Irvenstown Primary

Cydnabyddiaeth Arbennig / Special Recognition:

Cymru / Wales: 

Forden CiW School

Ysgol Mynydd Bychan

Upper Rhymney Primary

Ysgol Frongoch

Bwlchgwyn School

Cornist Park Primary

Ysgol Gymraeg Morswyn

Blaendulais Primary School

Bryn Deri Primary

Ysgol Porth y Felin

Ysgol Tir Morfa

Rhayader Primary School

Trelai Primary

Plasnewydd Primary School

Henllys Church in Wales School

Ysgol Gymuned Llannerch-y-medd

Marlborough Primary School

Trellech Primary

Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Tonyrefail

Lloegr / England: 

Brookhouse Primary School

Cedars Primary School

St Anthony's RC Primary School

Wensley Fold CE Primary Academy

Yr Alban / Scotland: 

Blacklands Primary School

Leslie Primary School

Wellshot Primary School

Gogledd Iwerddon / Northern Ireland: 

St John The Baptist Primary 

St John's Primary School

Clod Uchel / Highly Commended

Cymru / Wales: 

Ysgol Pennant

Ysgol San Sior

Ysgol Llanddulas

Ysgol Penmachno

Ysgol Gynradd Dafen Primary 

Ysgol Gymraeg Aberystwyth

Ysgol Pentreuchaf

Ysgol Gynradd Creigiau

Lloegr / England: 

St John's CE Primary School

St Margaret Mary's RC Primary 

Summerhill Primary Academy

Sylvester Primary Academy

Yr Alban / Scotland: 

Doonfoot Primary School

Langbank Primary School

Livingston Village Primary 

Logan Primary School

Newmains Primary School

St Conval's Primary School

Swinton Primary School

Gogledd Iwerddon / Northern Ireland: 

Ballyholland Primary School

Clonalig Primary School

Dromore Central Primary School

Grange Primary School 

Lisbellaw Primary School

Our Lady's & St. Mochuas Primary 

Scarva Primary School

St Mary's Primary School - Newry

St Teresa's Primary School

Gwyddonwyr Gwych / Super Scientists

Cymru / Wales: 

St. Michael's RC Primary School

Ysgol Pen y Fro

St Mary's Church In Wales School

Blackwood Pimary 

Bryn Celyn Primary

Ysgol Ffordd Dyffryn

St Joseph's Cathedral Primary 

Peterston super Ely CiW Primary 

Sketty Primary School

Alway Primary School

Ysgol Gynradd Llandegfan

Archbishop Rowan Williams Church in Wales Primary 

Mountain Lane Primary

NPTC Newtown College

Danygraig Primary School

Lloegr / England: 

Didsbury CE Primary School

Gorton Primary School

Grange Primary School

Griffin Park Primary School

Holy Souls RC Primary School

St Alban's RC Primary School

St Mary's RC Primary- Manchester

St Stephen's CE Primary School

Temple Meadow Primary School

Yr Alban / Scotland: 

Alloway Primary School

Meldrum Primary School

Our Lady and St Francis Primary 

Our Lady of the Annunciation Primary 

Our Lady's RC Primary School

St Brendan's Primary School

St Mary's Primary School

Underbank Primary School

Gogledd Iwerddon / Northern Ireland: 

Cortamlet Primary School

Mullavilly Primary School

St John's Eglish Primary School

St Patrick's Primary -Eskra

Cyfranwyr / Contributors

Cymru / Wales: 

Langstone Primary School

Ysgol Llanychllwydog

Carreghofa School

Mary Immaculate Catholic Primary 

Eveswell Primary School

Ysgol Y Berllan Deg

Montgomery Church in Wales School

Ysgol Gynradd Cwrt Henri

St Cadoc's R C Primary School

Bodnant Community School 

Ysgol Bryn Pennant

Lloegr / England: 

Anchorsholme Academy

Daisyfield Primary School

Eaton Valley Primary School

Eden Primary School

Ferndale Primary School

Heald Place Primary School

St Anne's Catholic Primary 

St Anne's RC Primary School

St Barnabas C of E Primary Academy

St Bernadette's Catholic Primary 

St Johns C of E Primary 

St Kentigern's RC Primary 

Yr Alban / Scotland: 

Our Lady of Peace Primary

Scotstoun Primary School

Straiton Primary School

Gogledd Iwerddon / Northern Ireland: 

Mountnorris Primary School

St Anthony's Primary

St Mary's Primary - Derrytrasna

St Mary's Primary School - Dungannon

St Oliver Plunkett's Primary School

Tandragee Primary School

Bulbcast:

Enillwyr/Winners: 

Langbank Primary

Yn Ail / Runners-up: 

St Mary’s Maghery

Cyfranwyr / Contributors: 

Cortamlet Primary

Our Lady of the Assumption

Our Lady & St Mochua

Livingston Primary

Windyknowe Primary

Ysgol Pentre Uchaf

Thanks again Bulb Buddies,                                                      

Professor Plant

Hi Bulb Buddies,

As we reach the final day of weather data collection, we want to extend a huge thank you to all the schools that have participated in this year’s Spring Bulbs for Schools Investigation. Your dedication to the project has been invaluable, and we truly appreciate the effort you’ve put in.

Final Data Submission

Now that the recording period is ending, we kindly ask you to upload all your collected data (both weather and flower records) as soon as possible. If your plants haven’t flowered yet, don’t worry. Please let us know, and when they do bloom, you can still enter the flowering data (in millimetres). Every data entry is important and helps make this citizen science project a success.

Bulbcast Competition

If you have created a Bulbcast entry, don’t forget to submit it! We’re happy to receive entries via email, WeTransfer, or shared links – whatever works best for you. If you’ve had any issues sharing your submission, please get in touch so we can help. 

Check Your Data

To ensure your data is complete, you can review your school’s graph on the project website. Remember, prizes will be allocated based on the data entered, so make sure everything is up to date.

Bulb Care Resources

Even though data collection is ending, there are other tasks for you to enjoy. We have plenty of resources on our website, including tips on how to care for your bulbs after flowering. Remember to repurpose your pots after your plants have flowered. We will be sending sunflower seeds to all schools who have submitted weather and flower data and extra seeds to high performing schools, so the pots can have another role to play here!  You can also save the pots and use them if you are taking part in next year’s project.  

February Weather Summary

As we reach the end of March lets take a peek at last month’s weather. February is the month that sees us transition from winter to spring, and this was reflected in the weather we saw. 

The temperature for the first two weeks was lower than average, but the warmer weather in the second half of the month means that the overall temperature for February was above average. Northern Ireland was the warmest country with temperatures 0.9°C above average. 

At the beginning of the month Scottland saw freezing conditions and snow. Mid-month Northern Ireland and England saw heavy rain and strong winds. Towards the end of the month Wales saw heavy rains and some flooding. The end of the month saw more settled weather with some fog and frost. 

February saw below average rainfall, with Northern England seeing nearly half of the expected rainfall. 

Sunlight hours increased throughout the month, reaching just under the long term average for the UK. Scotland was the sunniest country this month. 

Once again, thank you for your fantastic work as part of this year’s Spring Bulbs for Schools Investigation. We couldn’t do it without you, and we hope you’ve enjoyed being part of this scientific adventure!

Please let us know if you have any questions or need support.

Professor Plant

Hi Bulb Buddies,

Thank you for all the weather data you have entered to the website so far. Please try to get all your data uploaded this week, as The Edina Trust will be using it to predict when our plants might flower!

I have seen my first daffodil in bloom this week! This feels very early. Have any of you seen any early signs of spring? Please let me know what you've seen and how your plants are doing when you share your comments this week. Do any of your plants have flower buds forming yet? You can use resources on the website to help prepare for taking flower records: Step 5: Keeping flower records (January - March)

Are you taking part in the BulbCast competition this year? If so, you could take video footage of your plants at different stages to use in your entry. I can't wait to see what you come up with. Remember to read the supporting resources that outline how the task can be structured so that everyone has a role to play: Bulbcast competition

January saw some dramatic weather, and this was reflected in your weather comments (see these below). Lots of you reported school closures, powerful winds, low temperatures and some reported snow and frost! Many of you were impacted by Storm Eowyn on the 24th of the month. This was the fifth named storm this storm season (September-August) and the first red warning for wind in 2025. Wind speeds of over 90mph were recorded in parts of Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland, and a 100mph gust was recorded in Drumalbin, Lanarkshire!

Days after storm Eowyn, storm Herminia reached the UK bringing heavy rain to parts of England and Wales. Some of you may have wondered why the storm names jumped from E to H! This is because storm Herminia had already been named by the Spanish Meteorological Service before it reached us. The next storm named by the UK will be Storm Floris! More information on named storms can be found here: Weathering the Storm

January Weather Summary

> January’s temperatures were colder than usual. All four nations recorded below-average temperatures, making it a chilly start to the year. 

A fascinating fact for our Spring Bulb scientists: what we now consider a "cold" January would have been considered average in the past. The 1961-1990 January mean temperature was 3°C (the average for this year), while today’s 1991-2020 average is 3.9°C (making this year 0.9°C bellow the average). This highlights how climate patterns are shifting over time!

> Rainfall was mixed across the country. Southern England experienced above-average rainfall, while Scotland and Northern Ireland were much drier than usual.

> Despite the cold and stormy spells, January turned out to be one of the sunniest on record! The UK saw 61.8 hours of sunshine, making it the fifth sunniest January since records began in 1910. 

A fascinating fact for our Spring Bulb scientists: four of the five sunniest Januarys have all occurred in the 21st century (that's since January 2001).

Keep up the great work observing and recording your data Bulb Buddies!

Professor Plant

Comments from schools:

Storm and School Closures

Irvinestown Primary School: School was closed on Friday due to the red weather warning.
Professor Plant: It’s always best to stay safe during severe weather! I hope you were able to check on your plants when you returned.

Logan Primary School: We were not at school on Friday due to the storm.
Professor Plant: I hope you and your plants were safe from the storm. Did you notice any changes in your garden when you returned?

Scarva Primary School: We had to close on Friday because of Storm Eowyn and a red weather warning so we could not record weather data.
Professor Plant: Storms can be very disruptive! I appreciate you keeping track of the data when possible.

St Mary’s Primary – Maguiresbridge:We were unable to get a reading on Friday as the school was off with the storm (Eowyn). We have lost some plants and pots because they have been lifted with the wind.
Professor Plant: Oh no! I’m sorry to hear about the damage. Hopefully, you can replant some bulbs, and they’ll still have a chance to grow!

Meldrum Primary School: Bad storm on Friday, could not get any data.
Professor Plant: That’s understandable! I hope your plants weren’t damaged. Did you notice any effects on your garden afterward?

St John’s Primary: No weather recorded for Friday 24th as school was closed due to the storm.
Professor Plant: That’s okay! It’s always important to stay safe in bad weather.

Wellshot Primary School: School was closed on Friday because of the storm.
Professor Plant: I hope the storm didn’t cause too much damage to your plants!

Langbank Primary School: Our school was closed on Friday because of Storm Eowyn so we did not get the weather data.
Professor Plant: I appreciate you updating me despite the closure. Well done for staying safe during the storm. 

Ysgol Porth Y Felin: We had a big storm last night.
Professor Plant: I hope your plants made it through safely! Storms can bring a lot of rain, which can be helpful or harmful depending on how strong the wind is.

Stanford in the Vale Primary: We had Storm Eowyn on Friday.
Professor Plant: I hope you and your plants were okay! Did you notice any changes when you came back to school?

Ysgol Gymraeg Morswyn: Dim cofnod ar dydd Gwener oherwydd fod yr ysgol ar gau oherwydd Storm Eowyn. (No record on Friday because the school was closed due to Storm Eowyn.)
Professor Plant: Diolch am roi gwybod i mi. Mae'n bwysig cadw'n ddiogel yn ystod stormydd. (Thanks for letting me know. It is important to stay safe during storms.)

Cold and Icy Weather

Doonfoot Primary School: It was freezing.
Professor Plant: Sounds like a chilly week! Did you notice frost on the ground or your plants?

Ysgol Tycroes: This week has been very cold. We have had snow and most mornings have been very frosty. The temperature has been as low as -1°C.
Professor Plant: Frosty mornings can be beautiful but challenging for plants! Well done for braving the cold to get your readings!

Pil Primary School: The weather has been very cold this week.
Professor Plant: Cold weather can slow plant growth. I wonder if you’ll see a change once it warms up! 

Cornist Park C.P: “There is a lot of snow and it is very cold, it feels like -1 degrees.” “We have had snow, rain, sleet, and hail, the wind is making it feel like -1 degrees.” “Today the hail has frozen the roads and they are icy, it is very cold.” “The ice on the path and road is very slippy, it is cold.” “We have ice and it is very cold, the wind makes it feel like -5 degrees.”

Professor Plant: Thank you all for sharing your weather comments. It sounds like quite a chilly week with the snow and icy conditions! Make sure to stay safe and warm everyone, and well done for collecting your weather readings in these cold temperatures!

Stanford in the Vale Primary: Very cold and the ice has settled in.

Professor Plant: Stay careful on those icy paths! It’s important to stay safe in these conditions. 

Bwlchgwyn Primary School: Lots of snow and ice covering our rain gauge all week.

Professor Plant: It sounds like you've had quite a bit of snow! Remember to bring your rain gauge inside for the snow to melt. Do you think the reading will be higher or lower once the snow has melted? 

Meldrum Primary School: A lot of rain and snow at the start of the week and pretty cold throughout the week.

Professor Plant: Rain and snow can sometimes create difficult conditions, but it’s a good opportunity to observe how the weather affects both the plants and the surroundings. Well done Bulb Buddies. 

Observations of Rain and Wet Conditions

Gavinburn Primary School: Normal weather for this time of year.
Professor Plant: It’s great that you are noticing seasonal patterns! Do you think this will help predict when your plants will flower?

Cornist Park C.P: It has been very cold and lots of rain this week. Our plants must feel cold.
Professor Plant: Plants can be quite hardy in the cold! They’ll start growing faster once it warms up.

Ysgol Porth Y Felin: Very wet.
Professor Plant: Lots of rain can help plants grow, but too much might cause waterlogging. Keep an eye on them!

Stanford in the Vale Primary: A lotta rain this week, mate.
Professor Plant: Rainy weeks can be great for plant growth! Did you see any changes in your garden, mateys?

Plant Growth and Gardening Observations

Ysgol Tycroes: All of our bulbs have sprouted stems and leaves. We have been learning about what a plant needs to grow strong and how a plant makes its own food called photosynthesis.
Professor Plant: That’s fantastic! Photosynthesis is key to plant survival. I’m excited to hear how your plants continue to grow.

Ysgol Pennant: Roedden ni wedi plannu yr planhigyn oedd wedi chwythu ffwrdd ar y dydd mawrth. (We replanted the plant that had blown away on Tuesday.)
Professor Plant: Gwaith da! Gobeithio bydd y planhigyn yn parhau i dyfu. (Well done! I hope the plant continues to grow.)

Bwlchgwyn Primary School: We can see some sprouts opening.
Professor Plant: That’s wonderful! Your plants are making great progress. Keep watching for their next stage of growth.

St Mary’s Primary – Maguiresbridge: We have noticed that the bulbs have all started to sprout.
Professor Plant: That’s exciting news! Keep an eye on your bulbs, they are on their way to flowering.

Henllys Church in Wales: Plants coming through.
Professor Plant: Great to hear! Keep monitoring them for new growth.

Langbank Primary School: Most of the pots/bulbs are starting to grow
Professor Plant: Fantastic news! Keep an eye on them!

Ysgol Tycroes: Nearly all of our bulbs now have shoots coming out of them.

Professor Plant: Wonderful news about the bulbs! Keep up the good work!

Ysgol Llanddulas: Some of our bulbs have grown a lot. No flowers still.

Professor Plant: That’s fantastic progress! Bulbs are getting ready to bloom, but sometimes they take a little more time to flower. Keep observing them, and I’m sure you’ll see the flowers soon enough.

Data Collection

St Joseph's Cathedral: We are very sorry that we have forgotten to record these past weeks. Once again, we are deeply sorry for the inconvenience that we have made for your research.
Professor Plant: That’s okay! Thank you for letting me know. Keeping records is a great habit, and I appreciate your efforts.

Ysgol Llanddulas: I did this on Monday because we had a new teacher on Friday, and they did not know how to log us on.
Professor Plant: No worries! It’s great that you caught up with the data.

Roaring Reptiles - Ysgol Llanddulas:We did not get weather records on Friday because our school shut due to a burst water pipe.
Professor Plant: That sounds like an unexpected event! I hope everything was fixed quickly.

Ysgol Porth Y Felin: We had no school on Monday and then 2 snow days.
Professor Plant: Snow days are always exciting! Did you notice any effects on your plants afterward?