An all day visit by the Year 6 Pōkākā and New Entrant/Year 1 Miro buddy classes of Otatara school meant in depth learning about native tree species, in what environment they live and thrive in, identifying them and studying their features.
A walk in the remnant kahikatea swamp forest, and another in the restored forest area around the pond allowed for searching for their classroom tree species, and learning to identify a number of NZ native tree species. It was also a chance to learn about what lives in these two different habitats and making comparisons between them. We looked closely at the two habitats and how forests work - one day the restored forest will have canopy tree species like miro and pōkākā growing. We found divaricating and heteroblastic plants, with questioning and wondering revealing lots about these tree adaptations. We heard fernbird and saw a number of other birds.
Back in the education centre we identified the leaves we had collected showing just how tricky it can be to identify plants which have similar looking leaves. Close up noticing and looking contributed to some awesome nature journalling and note taking about plants. We finished the day planting pōkākā and miro, and estimating and then measuring the height of these trees. Over time they will be measured to see how tall they grow.
Bronwyn
Posted: 3 March 2020
Not at the same time! On Monday and Tuesday 24/25th February the Education Centre hosted a two-day trapping workshop “Introduction to predator trapping methods”. The workshop is supported by Predator Free 2050 and was arranged by Ini-Isabee Gunn the Southland Coordinator.
The workshop went through planning pest control operations, pest animal traits, field instructions, health and safety, examples of small and large-scale pest control and outcome and result monitoring. Then practical sessions on setting of various types of traps followed by outside practical sessions on setting up an actual trap line in Rances Bush.
The course was supported by a new (October 2019) guidebook – “Practical Guide to Trapping” published by Department of Conservation – a very useful resource for groups which can be found at https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/predator-free-2050/toolkit-predator-free-2050/practical-guide-to-trapping/
On the evening of 27 February 2020 the Southland Arts Society Committee met in the Education Centre. Following the meeting and shared tea the group ventured out into the outdoors and congregated at the new hut where members used the hut as their subject for some great artwork. We thought the hut would make a great “artist in residence” place for a few days – apply to Chris!!
Chris
Posted: 3 March 2020
Lots of things are happening!!
Thanks TW Events – or Transport World!! - A generous donation just before Christmas had Bronwyn and I going shopping for the Community Nursery Education Centre. We raided “Young Reflections” where Joy and Bronwyn (another Bronwyn!) helped us choose many educational toys, books, bug catchers and other things for the Centre. Thanks to Adam Reinsfield at TW Events for his enthusiasm, for suggesting us and helping out the Southland Community Nursery and Education Centre – it will benefit the hundreds of school children who come through our centre to learn about their environment.
Community Nursery Recipe Book – ready for sale – get your copy for $10 – its been a while in the making but is packed with recipes and foraging tips from Community Nursery participants past and present. Order your copy today from Chris. Thanks Bronwyn for many hours of work pulling it all together.
Workshops coming up – weekend 7/8 March 2020 Jo Ogier and Sandra Morris Art Workshop and Saturday 14 March 2020 a morning and afternoon workshop with Rob Tipa – “Maori Traditional Uses of Native Plants” - details of both workshops are at https://www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz/education-centre/activities/workshops/ and both are first come first served, booking essential by emailing Chris at [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]
Also, some strange patterns are appearing on the Education Centre floor – watch this space or come and see what’s evolving!
And the completion of Parkes Hut - the cutest little interpretation centre on the planet - thanks Derek
Friday Volunteer Mornings are on and we have lots of plants for sale at $5 PB3 size – come along and have a look one Friday morning.
regards
Chris
Posted: 7 February 2020
The Community Nursery will reopen for volunteers on the morning of Friday 17 January 2020. There will be plenty to do, if the plants survive the recent weather! We should have some very wind tolerant natives to sell!!
The Jo Ogier print raffle at out break-up do raised around $200 for the Nursery, and the winner was fittingly Maggie Elford (Maggie not in photo!). Thanks Jo for giving us the artwork to raffle. We have some exciting workshops planned early in the new year so keep a lookout on the website to book your place. See you on the 17th January 2020! We have a new bird scaring device - clearly it didnt work!! (well not in the stong winds we have been having anyway!!).
Chris
Posted: 6 January 2020
Bronwyn and I have just finished a very busy year with school and other groups visiting the Nursery. This calendar year so far we have had 1649 visitors (excluding Friday volunteers) – nearly twice as many as the previous year! Most of these visitors have been school groups culminating in the whole of Otatara School visiting last week – 300 students over two days doing a mini-bioblitz! You can read all about it at https://www.southlandcommunitynursery.org.nz/news-and-events/ as well as all the other exciting events we have held this year.
As well as holding our Break- up event on Friday with various activities (and maybe a little work) we will have a few exciting potential Christmas gifts on offer so bring CASH (like a Caveman!) so you can purchase some of Honorlea’s natural body products and maybe a native plant for your “hard to buy for friends”, and for a special raffle – Jo Ogier has very kindly donated a limited edition artwork – tickets $2 each – proceeds to the Community Nursery. We will be drawing it on the day.
A big thanks from me to everyone who has helped out at the Community Nursery and Education Centre this year, particularly Bronwyn who has done such a fantastic job with school groups and a big thanks to a Lotteries for making this possible.
Chris
Posted: 15 December 2019
