Gardeners come to the rescue of Mount Maunganui schools' seedling fundraiser

Tahatai Coast School students Ryan Parker, 9, Anshika Lata, 11, and Ben Jessop, 9, growing seedlings. Photo / Jean Bell

Thanks to the spirit of community, a plant sale at a fundraiser for several Mount schools is back on track even after most of the students' seedlings died.

Clare Rodgers, a lead garden facilitator for three schools, said the school children were "over the moon" when it was revealed the seedling sale would still go ahead.

Students at Mount Primary, Mount Intermediate, Arataki Primary, Tahatai Coast and St Thomas Moore schools had been busy in the garden for weeks, growing plants for the fundraiser at Arataki Park tomorrow.But during the recent school holidays tragedy struck - Rodgers' father passed away, meaning she didn't get a chance to visit the school to water the plants in the midst of a long hot spell.

It was a huge disappointment that the seedlings had died and it couldn't have happened at a worse time, said Rodgers.

"People felt more gutted for me because my father only died two weeks ago."

When the dead seedlings were discovered, fundraiser organiser and local gardening-in-schools initiative PiPS sent out a call for help.

The schools were overwhelmed at the community response, with Good Neighbour, Mount College horticulture students, Teacher In The Paddock and a Welcome Bay gardener all helping out by donating new seedlings or other goods.

The fresh plants have now been carefully potted up by the students and the sale will go ahead as planned.

Rodgers said the students at Arataki Primary School, a decile one school, were especially overjoyed at the good news.

"To show that the wider community was rallying around them it just meant so much for them.

"The community spirit in all of the schools is incredible and parents do want to help their local school."

Aside from the seedlings, a range of other goods will be on offer including a sausage sizzle, bake sale, coffee cart and a bike fix-up mechanic station.

Live music will be provided by Mount Intermediate School's band, Revolution Radio, who won the 2018 Rockshop Bandquest regional competition.

Mount Coast Schools Combined Fundraiser

WHEN: 10.30am-12pm tomorrowWHERE: Arataki Park, rain or shine
BRING: small change to buy goods at the market
ORGANISERS: PiPS, Garden to Table and the Arataki Living Park Project.