Students get creative
to demonstrate the link between soil loss and sediment entering our waterways.
This included erosion sites, planting sites that aim to address erosion issues and water quality testing in the same catchment,’’ said Galley.
‘‘We wanted the students to understand how their areas of study can relate to other environmental issues and think about the bigger picture. They are the future of conservation and hopefully the day inspired them to keep up their science curiosity.’’
Student Jake Rayner said he learnt a lot of new information about managing erosion and water quality.
‘‘I knew that trees helped with erosion but I thought that was through acting as a barrier as soil slipped down the hill. I didn’t realise it was the roots that helped soil stay in place, but I do now.’’ Wood chips are flying as students prepare creative works made from non-pine timber for a Manawatu¯ / Whanganui secondary school wood working competition.
The Creative Woodskills Competition competition encourages secondary school students to display imaginative designs using wood.
Universal College of Learning’s (UCOL) Rowan Dicks said students would show off their technical skills and gain recognition for their achievements.
‘‘[We] see wood working skills as a great asset for a country which is rich in wood, but poor in adding value to what is our third largest export category,’’ he said.
The competition has been organised and supported over the years by the Middle Districts branch of the NZ Farm Forestry Association, the Furniture Design and Construction Department of UCOL and the local branch of the Technical Teachers group.
Dicks said the high-value furniture industry needed skilled workers, imaginative design and an associated ‘‘wood culture’’.
He said farm foresters were particularly interested in seeing imaginative use of various decorative, non-radiata, timbers that they grow and have been supplying to some of the schools.
The culmination of all this work will be judged and prizes presented at Palmerston North’s Square Edge on October 19. Competition entries will then be on display at Square Edge for a week.
Dicks said the public would be impressed by the quality.