Wetland planting brings learning to life

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 21 June, 2012

Wetland planting brings learning to life

Outdoor learning is hands on at Longburn School where pupils of all year levels mucked in alongside Horizons Regional Council staff to plant 600 native plants this week.

The wetland and bush planting was part of the school’s plan to develop an outdoor classroom and ties in with recent learning about habitats, animals and the environment.

Horizons environmental management officer Neil Mickleson describes the area at the back of the school as “a sea of flax dropping off into a lowland area that covers about half a hectare of bush remnant”.

“Every different type of tree here will eventually have a sign with its name and identifying features so the kids will be able to go around, look at a tree and its leaves and identify other trees like it. It’s great to have the littlies involved first off as they’ll be here as the trees mature,” he says.

Year 7 pupil Aliyah Davidson agrees saying “in at least 50 years we’re going to come back and say ‘we planted this tree, this is our tree’”.

Teachers and pupils began weeding the area last year and would like to see it become a haven for native birds; they’re particularly interested in pukeko as it is the school’s logo.

Recent learning around habitats and animals has seen classes set ink stations to identify footprints in the nature reserve and wetland and teacher Shelley Lagah says the installation of a seating area will help create a fully functional learning space.

“We envisage an outdoor learning environment where the whole school can learn about our natural environment and the creatures that inhabit it,” she says.

“It’s a great resource that we hope will become a teaching tool for other schools and the wider community as well and it’s brilliant to have Horizons down here helping us achieve that goal.”

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