A GARDENING project started last year by Wendouree Primary School staff and students has received a boost thanks to their participation in an annual environmental challenge.<\/p>\n
The school community\u2019s plans to plant a self-sustainable Miyawaki forest has netted them the winning prize in Alfredton Rotary Club\u2019s 2023 Environmental Challenge.<\/p>\n
Having received the $700 prize last week, the school\u2019s garden specialist Stephen McNeight said the forest will add to their planting effort.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis project will be right next to our wildlife habitat garden, and essentially will be a micro-forest,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a system used extensively in warmer Asian countries to rapidly grow forests back. Our 4\/5\/6 students will be working on this.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happens is they dig out a section of ground, add nutrients to the soil, put it back, then plant the trees.\u201d<\/p>\n
Students will begin planting the Miyawaki forest at the start of the next term with the project expected to be complete by the end of the year.<\/p>\n
Work began on the gardening project last year thanks to a $5000 Landcare grant with all 120 students making granite sand pathways and planting native trees while plans are underway to also build a frog and lizard habitat.<\/p>\n
Mr McNeight said the overall aim is to teach kids about the environment while increasing the school\u2019s biodiversity.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019ll attract more birds, frogs, insects,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s also an education tool so the kids can look at global warming and the benefits of forest regeneration.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A GARDENING project started last year by Wendouree Primary School staff and students has received a boost thanks to their participation in an annual environmental challenge. The school community\u2019s plans to plant a self-sustainable Miyawaki forest has netted them the winning prize in Alfredton Rotary Club\u2019s 2023 Environmental Challenge. Having received the $700 prize last […]<\/p>\n