As part of World Community Arts Day on February 17 the organiser is asking the community to get involved in making a large outdoor art installation.

Poplar Farm in Sutton-on-Sea are linking with the World Community Arts Day project to raise awareness of the issues surrounding our fragile environment and the effect of climate change on the butterfly and bee population.

Helen Matthews of Poplar Farm said: "The Butterflies and Bees are our largest pollinators. Many fruit and vegetables could not exist without these busy pollinators, and if butterflies and bees were to vanish, an estimated one third of all our food would vanish with them.

"Erratic weather conditions, loss of habitat, pollution and pesticides are just some of the reasons cited for their decline."

Last November, the European Parliament urged for action to be taken to reduce the drastic decline in bees, warning that the drop in their numbers could have dire effects on the world production of food.

As part of this project, Helen is inviting schools and community groups to take part in this project by designing and painting their own butterflies or bees which will be staked out in one of the farm's meadows.

Helen added: "We are hoping to have between 500 and 1,000 butterflies to make the artwork as large as possible.

"The installation can be viewed on the weekend of February 21 and 22 where participants and visitors can pick up free seeds to plant in their gardens to encourage more butterflies and the bees."

* Details contact Helen on 07894292641