ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Environmental education kits for loan

We are excited to be able to offer lending to schools of our new environmental education kits. Currently we have available pest animal trapping, waiora stream study and invertebrates (bugs). These are available for loan for between 1-2 terms and are useful to those wanting to do a more in depth inquiry. We will be looking to add further kits in the future so watch this space.

To support teachers in getting the best use out of these kits, and to show how they can be used for long term projects, we are going to be running teacher workshops in Term 4 and Term 1 to unpack them. If you are interested in being kept up to date, or if you would like to borrow one of our kits please email education@horizons.govt.nz for further information.

Check out the story below from Halcombe School who have recently borrowed one of our trapping kits.

Pest animal tracking and trapping at Halcombe School

The students at Halcombe School wanted to look at what pest animals they had in their school and ways to get rid of them to help native biodiversity return.  We worked with senior students to learn about pest animals and the importance of right trap for the right pest. Tracking tunnels and chew cards were used to identify pest and they have found an abundance of rats and mice and potentially stoats and possums.  After some training the school have borrowed a trapping kit to target those pests found in the school grounds. A week after setting up their traps they have managed to catch three rats and a number of mice. They are looking forward to seeing what else they can catch and how this will have a flow on affect to other species in the area.

Water quality investigations with Riverdale School

The students at Riverdale have been exploring their local awa the Manawatū River and how water quality can have an impact on the animals that live in and around it. Due to extreme flooding the week prior to their field trip, we opted to visit the Kahuterawa stream which flows into the Manawatū. This highlighted to tamariki what happens up stream affects what happens downstream. We helped them test the water quality by checking the temperature, clarity, flow, pH and then searched under rocks for macroinvertebrates. We found lots of mayflies and dobsonflies which are an indicator of positive stream health. They were so delighted to catch a native bully as part of their observations. The students are keen to continue exploring stream health and will look to do a further comparison study with the main Manawatū River when time allows.

More plants go in ground at Tōtara Reserve Regional Park

Students from Awahou and North St Schools were back at Tōtara Reserve last month to continue the amazing mahi that was started last year. Poplar trees were felled next to the stopbank in 2020 due to safety concerns which has left a large area for revegetation near the river. This is the perfect habitat for some of our native animals. Last year schools planted more than 1000 trees and this year approx. 600 plants have been added in the planting site. The students will be back over the spring and summer months to monitor their growth and remove weeds to give these seedlings the best chance of survival. The revegetation project will be completed over the next few years with the opportunity for the community to get involved in our regional park.

ENVIROSCHOOLS

Congratulations to......

Despite the ongoing issues with Covid term 2 brought two Bronze Reflection celebrations in person.

Congratulations to Hokowhitu School in Palmerston North

and

Betty Montford Kindergarten in Horowhenua.

Pat Kelly Enviroschools Action Fund 

The Pat Kelly fund will be opening again soon for 2022-23. This fund is only open to official Enviroschools in the Horizons Region. All eligible schools will be emailed to announce when it is open.

Some of our amazing projects from last year included the creation of a community stall at Brunswick School where students now sell produce, seeds, and encourage the community to share extra produce they have from their own backyards.  Palmerston North Girls' High used the fund towards the purchase of pots to plant succulents as part of their "Connections Day" for year 9 students, which this year had a sustainability section to introduce new students to the group, and how they can contribute to the ongoing sustainability initiative in the school.

IDEAS AND RESOURCES

Oranga Wai

Oranga wai is a new website we have created for you to learn about the pressures affecting the health of water in our catchments. Our waterways are broken down into Freshwater Management Units (FMU's) which are similar to catchments. You can explore the FMU you live in, or are interested in, by clicking onto the new site here. 

Conservation Week / Te Wiki Tiaki Ao Tūroa  5-11 September 2022

This year the focus of Conservation Week in on how we can take action for nature. Taking action not only benefits nature, but also our personal wellbeing. Ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata – when the land is well, the people are well.  

When Papatūānuku thrives, we thrive. For activities and resources click here 

NZAEE offer a way to connect and inspire educators and communities to learn, collaborate and take action for papatūanuku. They have just revamped their website which you can check out here. There are heaps of links to resources you can use in your mahi.