Environment Waikato supports school planting projects

Environment Waikato will grant a total of $5,869 for environmental projects at two Waikato schools.

The council confirmed Enviroschools grant funding today, awarding $5,000 to Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha school towards planting of native trees and shrubs and $869 to Te Kauwhata Primary School to enable the students to build an eco hut and develop the surrounding garden. In addition, the council will assist the schools with sourcing native plants.

Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha is a new, decile one, school in the Matamata-Pialo district with 71 students. The planting project aims to bring native birds into the school to encourage children to care about and develop a guardianship role for the local environment. During consideration of the application, Councillors suggested Environment Waikato sourced plants would prove more cost-effective than the costs quoted, allowing funds to go further. The council also encouraged the school to seek Enviroschools membership

Te Kauwhata Primary School is a decile five Enviroschool with 252 students. The students have designed the proposed eco hut and will be fully involved in building and maintaining the surrounding garden. The money granted will be used to build the hut and develop the surrounding garden.

Environment Waikato chairman Peter Buckley said these types of projects represent a great start for the children. In granting the funding, the council actively encouraged the Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha school to join the Enviroschools program.

While Te Wharekura o Te Rau Aroha school is not yet a member of the Enviroschools programme, it’s a natural next step,” he said.

For more information on the Enviroschools programme, contact Dean King at 0800 800 401 or visit www.ew.govt.nz/for-schools/enviroschools.