Source: Environment Canterbury Regional Council
“With the help of our community we planted 450 natives into our local wetland,” said Sarah Elliot, HSC Project Manager. “This not only enhanced the wetland, but it also gave students, their families and the community an opportunity to learn about how natives help build healthy habitats, biodiversity and clean freshwater.”
According to Hudson, a student at Waitaki Valley School, the day was a hit. “I like going on field trips and learning about different plants. Planting our native plants into the community wetlands was really fun.”
The project is helping to bridge connections between the school and the community. “Working alongside the HSC to develop and grow our Community Native Nursery is a wonderful way for the community and the school to work together,” said Jane.
Kids make the best teachers
Every week, senior students at the school come down to the nursery to take care of the plants, learn about biodiversity in the valley and help with initiatives such as the recent Eco Sourcing Challenge.
For six weeks students, their families and community members were encouraged to scout out and collect seeds from a list of plants native to the area. They collected their treasures and brought them to the nursery for a community propagation workshop. At the workshop, they learned how to plant the seeds and nurture them into seedlings that could be either taken home or contributed to the nursery for planting in the community.
