An area featuring gardens brimming with vegetable plants, tubs of strawberry plants and herbs, a passion fruit vine and a chicken coop with six chickens is the absolute pride of Marton Junction School.
Principal Vanessa Te Ua said the effect of the new environmental school zone had captured the imagination and excited every child in the school.
A Nestle Purina grant earlier this year has "changed the school day" for every child in the school, she said.
Each class of the four rooms at the school has a planter box garden and there are two for the community. There's also a garden shed, compost bins and a worm farm.
Dozens of vegetable plants have been donated from the Whanganui Prison nursery, Edible Organics Market and several Marton gardeners.