Horsham Downs School will add to its existing native bush area to create an ecosystem with its own micro-climate with the help of a 'Treemendous Makeover', $10,000 toward transforming a small forest area at the school will attract native birds such as tui and kereru.
Horsham Downs School Environmental team co-ordinator Julie Herbert said: "We have an area of approx 1600 sq metres to plant and we want to create a space that is full of native plants.
"Our goal is to enlarge an existing native bush area and create an ecosystem with its own micro climate. We envisage a healthy, weed-free plant area that will provide opportunities for education, be visually appealing, provide habitat and food sources for indigenous plants and animals, as well as a stepping stone for mobile birds, such as tui and kereru."
Treemendous first sprung from the ground in 2008, and since, The Mazda Foundation and Project Crimson have worked with 27 schools from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South to create amazing native gardens and outdoor classrooms.
The makeover at Horsham Downs School should see an outdoor classroom and will feature educational signage. "We plan to install labels on a representative specimen of each plant species and install weta boxes.