Nature Centre Opening - a great event!
The official opening of the Nature Education Centre was an awesome event.
Estelle Leask welcomed about 60 people to the new building and with Dave Taylor’s address, it was a very moving start to the celebration.
Brian and I explained our vision for the property and the new Centre and thanked our volunteers, key supporters (particularly Linda and Ray Jackson, Maggie and Stephen Elford, Dawn Patterson and Janet Hodgetts) and sponsors for enabling the project to happen. The funding for the Centre had been one third Southland Community Nursery Trust (from sale of plants), one third from ourselves, and one third from the Community Trust of Southland. Further grants for carparking and decking to finish the building had been given by Department of Conservation and Southland Forest and Bird Society. Janet Hodgetts artwork in the Centre was enjoyed by all.
Our patron Ruud Kleinpaste put the community project in a national context. Earlier in the day Ruud had taken some excited Limehills schoolchildren on a bug hunting expedition around the ponds and bush.
Only the weather didnt behave, but I guess that’s why we build the all-weather facility in the first place!
We welcome school enquires and if you would like to hold a workshop at the property - have a look at the Education Centre section of this website and book with Chris.
Posted: 13 November 2013