Limehills School attended on 15th April armed with many questions for Chris about the native plants that they were learning about in the classroom. They started with a “rap song” about photosynthesis! They enjoyed being under the tall bush and teacher Kathy commented that in 30 years of visiting bush reserves she had never heard such loud birdsong. Another activity was learning to identify different native plants and their uses. At the end of the visit in the Education Centre Chris looked at the various school garden ideas the children had drawn and the group finished with songs accompanied by the Ukelele played by teacher Kathy.
Posted: 7 May 2014
A full month of activities started with Surrey Park Early Learning Centre spending a morning in the nursery – activities included admiring the apple trees, bush walks, learning about native trees and ending with a sing-a-long and lunch in the Education Centre.
The next visit was Mark Oster from Environment Southland’s Enviroschools project holding an “Environmental leaders” workshop where five students from various Southland enviroschools came and worked through exercises in the classroom and around the property.
On 6 April a “Pest Workshop” for community groups was held by Environment Southland and Department of Conservation – groups from Otatara, Bluff, Omaui, SIT and other individuals learned about poisons and traps and shared information about their own pest control operations.
Salford preschool attended on 8th April and enjoyed a range of activities from “bug hunting” to plant bingo and seed collecting, ending with activity songs lead by Bronwyn.
Aparima Student Hayden did work experience in the Nursery for a week during April
Posted: 7 May 2014
on Sunday 23 March an afternoon of bird related activities was held as part of Bird week (including finding a rat in a trap!), along with a photographic exhibition by Glenda Rees and a children’s bird painting competition.
The winners of the childrens painting competition were Bethany Hughes for her Albatross and from Surrey Park Early Childhood Centre – Isla Baron (kiwi), Siobhan Maguire (pukeko), Aden Dogherty (morepork) and Charlie Hegarty (kereru). They were awarded prizes from Forest and Bird and Department of Conservation.
The answers to the bird quiz – part of Southland Bird Week, organised by the Southland Natural History Field Club, were:
1) right
2) Buckhams
3) Closed
4) two
5) 24
6) Two takahe
7) Butterfly
8) Kaka
9) Sulphur-crested cockatoo
Posted: 31 March 2014
At the end of February we were fortunate to have the services of the Conservation Volunteers group based in Hokitika. Lead by Ashleigh, the group of international volunteers helped out for a day and did some great work – gravelling a track under Ray’s supervision, collecting seeds, digging flaxes and potting up native plants. Thanks guys, it was a great effort. Check out more about this volunteer group at www.conservationvolunteers.co.nz
Posted: 31 March 2014
Throughout a very busy March, Ulrike came to volunteer at our place. She adapted brilliantly to all the tasks at hand. As well as the Nursery, March is a busy month for harvesting home grown produce and so jobs included picking and juicing apples, picking and baking with blackberries, foraging elderberries and making elderberry and chocolate truffles, baking bread – as well as nursery activities, helping out with school groups, planting native plants. All done with an infectious enthusiasm and bright smile. We will miss you Ulrike!
Posted: 31 March 2014
