Treemendous boost to conservation project

The children on a pile of lime donated by Hatuma Lime as part of the Mangaotai stream enhancement project.

Argyll East School is one of four winning schools selected to receive a $10,000 Treemendous School Makeover next year, a joint initiative between the Mazda Foundation and Project Crimson Trust.

Along with Discovery School in Whitby, St Joseph's School in Temuka and Wyndham School in Southland, Argyll East School will be visited next year by the Treemendous team for a native tree planting working bee.

The schools will each receive an environmentally focused outdoor education space for students to learn and explore.

"It's always hard to choose just four finalists, and this year was no different as all of the entries were of exceptional standard," said Mazda Foundation chairman Andrew Clearwater.

Argyll East will continue to restore the banks of the Mangaotai Stream, which runs alongside the school, and plant more native trees. New pathways will lead to a specially designed eel platform and weta hotels, which will encourage more insects to the garden.

A display area to showcase the children's artwork, predator traps and picnic tables will also be included in the transformation.

"We are over the moon that our school has been chosen to receive a Treemendous School Makeover," said Argyll East principal Mark Thompson.

"We're excited to transform our outdoor area and develop the banks of the Mangaotai Stream, which will benefit the community as well as the school, and students can immerse themselves in nature, during both class and playtime."

Project Crimson Trust chairman Joris de Bres said it was nice to see schools around the country embracing the importance of conservation and outdoor education.

"All of the entries we received this year were of high calibre, and really showcased the creativity and enthusiasm for the environment in schools around the country."

Since the programme began in 2008, 31 schools have benefited from the Treemendous makeovers.

All primary and intermediate schools can apply for a Treemendous School Makeover. Finalists receive $500 for their school and the winning four schools receive a $10,000 Treemendous School Makeover. Entries will open again in the first term of the New Year.

On behalf of the Mangaotai riparian committee made up of children and members of the school committee, Argyll East teacher Rose Hay thanked a number of people and organisations for the work done so far on the project.

These included: Aaron Topp of Hatuma Limes for six truckloads of lime, Twist Trucking for transporting the lime free of charge, Centralines for taking down the dead tree and supplying mulch all free of charge, Burke Olsen for the free hireage and use of his digger, school parents who removed trees and sprayed the area and the Rivers Trust for their grant that was used to employ the services of The Conservation Company to spray blackberry and periwinkle on the Mangaotai banks.