Next Steps - Native Garden Development

The progress already has been huge.  Paul has been working hard on this area.  The paths already look great.  Room 8 helped out this week, finding rocks around the school and moving them so they could be used to mark out garden areas.  This is a work in progress.  A group of senior boys have worked really hard with Paul during break times, thanks Luke, Ben, Taylor and Dylan...doing this all off their own bat, just becuase they want to.💗

The children are already loving the new playing spaces the paths have created.  They are also enjoying engaging with Paul in the work he is doing while they are on their breaks, or at play-based time.

Next gap 30 lime chip (cartage donated by Avoca) will be put down on the paths and wood chip added to the areas that we want to plant. 

We will make some decisions on the best plants to plant in each area, but if you would like to be part of this project, you are more than welcome.

We think it is a great way to reinforce Kaitiakitanga in a pratical and authentic way. 

The boys also plan to build a small bridge with Paul and we will look at other exciting things we could add to this space.

A place to play and a place to plant.  Kaimahi in action.  😍

Reinvigorating our Native Bush

Our native bush area was first planted in 2004. A gift from Mrs Timoko's class.  It was a huge effort and took lots of planning and hard work.

It has been an absolute asset to our school, however with play-based learning children have been allowed over the last few years to use it as a play space.  Meaning many of the original plants died and areas were damaged.

We want to breathe life back into our Native bush area, by now creating play spaces, and no play spaces.  Clearning out, cleaning up and replanting areas that the children then look after in with their tuakana teina class.  

Paul Allen has done a huge amount of work clearning the spaces we want to set up as 'no play' spaces, moving rocks and forming edges.  We then want to bark these areas, eventually form usable paths and plant trees that will happily exist under the current canopy.

On Empty classroom day we plan to move the wood chip we currently have (from the tree that was cut down.)  We will then need more rocks and start planting areas.  This project will allow children to put kaitiakitanga into practice in our own backyard.  

It is a work in progress.  If you feel there is anything you may be able to help with to contribute to this project, we would gladly assist your assistance.  

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