Since becoming an Enviroschool in 2018, Westmere school students have undertaken a number of nature-based projects.
Highlights include a whole school visit to their local Westmere Lake and getting involved in the pest control programme. At school they also control pests enthusiastically to help protect native wildlife, including native birds.
Their first project involved maintaining the health of the old orchard which was planted years earlier. They pruned and fertilised existing trees, planted new ones and created an inviting environment for students to sit among the blossoms at lunch time and share the space with the birds and the bees.
Looking for what to do next, the students held meetings about their nature walk area. This is a lovely walk through the back of the school and is filled with native trees long established. The Enviro team noticed however that the trees were getting a little neglected.
Westmere students love to play in nature, however, that can take its toll on tree life as they are often used for huts and harakeke also makes a great diving pit! So the Enviro team negotiated with school management to protect and conserve at least half of this walkway.