To celebrate 20 years of Enviroschools in the region, students from 4-12 years old from around Marlborough helped to plant trees and plants along the Taylor River Walkway.
The students from 6 schools, Springlands kindergarten and Montessori were welcomed with a mihi. Followed by an introduction to the planting site, a site that was created in 2000 with Forest and Bird. The area was then added to in 2005 when Enviroschools first started in Marlborough. Again in 2015 at the Enviroschools 10 year celebration and recently for the 20 year celebration.
1 – Insect hunting in the bush; 2 – Natural collage; 3 – Identifying leaves with Angela; 4 – Natural exploration space construction
To connect to the space, students took part in a range of activities, including hunting for insects, making a natural collage, identifying leaves and constructing a natural exploration space. Then it was time to plant the 60 new native trees and plants.
Springlands Kindergarten taking part in the planting
Students planting 60 new natives along the Taylor River Walkway
Marlborough Mayor joining students on this special day
The Mayor joined the students, along with a couple of experts from the Parks and Open Spaces team at Marlborough District Council and the Enviroschools Education team to help with the planting. Mayor Taylor congratulated the children on all the ways they were helping to make the environment a better place in their schools and around the region. She also said she hoped the children would come back and visit the area that they planted to see how they were growing and pointed out that the first children who planted there in 2005 might be parents themselves now!
Thanks to all the keen environmentalists who came and took part in the 20 year celebrations.