St Anthony's School wetland planting
It was an exciting day for all the students and staff at St Anthony’s School on our last Monday of term, when we put on our gumboots and headed out to Kintrye Farm, to plant a wetland area in native trees.
It was an amazing learning opportunity that owners Matt and Sarah Gibbs invited the school to be part of.
The day started with a very special blessing by Ta Daymond, for the work that was to be undertaken.
This amazing project will continue for at least three to four years, where the students will not only learn about biodiversity and the environment, but ensure they actively participate in the Catholic Social Teaching of stewardship, kaitiakitanga, which is about being responsible guardians of the environment.
The purpose of planting into the wetland area was to generate an ecosystem around natural springs that are present on the farm. One area is very close to the Mangahao River and the other filters into a stream that then feeds into the Mangahao at a different location.
The students will continue to care for the plants they have planted and continue planting out the remaining wetland areas over the coming years.
This event involved enthusiastic representatives from Horizons, Fonterra, Enviroschools and Farm Source, who keenly taught and supported the students to plant the trees and also ensure that the entire group was well fed by way of a very welcome barbecue. It was a fantastic day of learning for the 110 students of St Anthony’s School.