The sun was shining for Elstow Waihou Combined School’s planting day – a culmination of lots of learning, planning and preparation.
Everyone helping out to plant the natives along the fence line.
Ideas arising from reflection
In 2023 the school underwent a holistic reflection and one of the ‘Next Steps’ identified was addressing the noise issue from heavy traffic on the school fence line. What would have been a great outdoor learning space was limited by the volume of traffic noise from the road.
Ecological options
This challenge was taken on by the keen envirogroup who brainstormed ecological building options for a sound buffer. The students worked hard on researching appropriate native plants that could be used to create a green wall to help reduce noise whilst also increasing biodiversity. They mapped out the site and calculated how many plants and how much mulch they would need to order.
Time for action
The chosen plants were ordered, and a planting day was planned! On the planting day the school gathered for karakia and waiata before getting to work planting and mulching their 250 trees.
Great teamwork, showcasing koromiko.
Proud of their work and care for the rewarewa tree.
Next steps
Fantastic support from the council and community.
So that this continues to be a space for learning, students will be working on plant labels to help with identification of the species they have planted.
Through this project students have been empowered to creatively solve an issue with an environmentally sound solution. They can see that they can make good choices for their surroundings that benefit people and the natural environment, and this learning is also shared with the community. “We have planted so many trees!”
Huge thanks to Restore Native Plant Nursery for supplying great quality plants, support from Thomas Raymond at Daltons for mulch delivery, and to Matamata Piako District councillors Caleb Ansell, Sharon Dean, Russell Smith and Peter Jager for coming along to support on planting day.