Bringing life back to bush track
A scouts group are trying to tame an overgrown bush track so it can be used again by school students.
The Tauhinu Sea Scouts of Greenhithe are sending over 30 keas, cubs and scouts to clear an unused nature path at Greenhithe Primary on Saturday.
Year four syndicate leader and Enviroschools organiser at Greenhithe Primary School Kelly Knowles says the track is a lovely ‘quiet spot’ where students can go to build huts, look for insects and play.
‘‘[There’s] lots of little wee nooks and crannies,’’ she says.
‘‘I think a lot of kids will be surprised at what’s in there.’’
The track has been closed for around three years and the school would like to have it open again by term four.
Knowles says there are quite a lot of native trees on the track, so clearing will be about taming and trimming the area to make it useable again.
Year three student and kea scout Isla Gilby, 7, says the track is important for the Greenhithe School community and also helps wildlife.
‘‘I’ve been in there once, just to look at the birds,’’ she says.
Greenhithe Primary is part of the Enviroschools programme and is a silver medal award winner.
The school has vegetable gardens, worm bins, and has planted native trees and fruit trees.
Year six student and cub scout Sean Kernaghan, 10, says once the track is clear, it will create more areas for students to play in.
‘‘Right now with all the building, there’s not very much play area for some of the kids, like some of the year ones and twos.
‘‘But if we got that walkway open and you could play in it, it would much better.’’
Sean also says he thinks the bush area would be a great quiet space to go and read a book.
The Tauhinu Sea Scouts have been involved in other conser- vation activities, including a recent planting day at Oratau Reserve.
Knowles says the bush space would be good for outdoor lessons during the summer months.
‘‘It’s just another area around the school that children can learn about native wildlife, peaceful environments, and about why we take care of these green areas that we have,’’ she says.