27/06/2016

100 members of the Hawke’s Bay community came together to plant 1300 native trees at the Argyll East  Treemendous School Makeover on Saturday.

Students, teachers, staff from Mazda New Zealand, Bay Mazda Hastings, Mazda Foundation, together with the Project Crimson team all pitched in to complete the makeover.

The school restored the banks of the Mangoatai Stream with the planting of more native trees.  Pathways were constructed to lead to a specially designed eeling pontoon and weta hotels which will encourage more insects to the garden. A display area to showcase the children’s art work, predator traps and picnic tables were also included in the transformation.

 

Argyll East School Principal, Julie Thelwall, says the school and local community have been working tirelessly over the last few months to improve their outdoor area, and the Treemendous School Makeover put the icing on the cake.

“We couldn’t be more proud of our new outdoor  educational space and the ongoing support from our local community, families and students who came together on Saturday to make it happen.

“Developing the banks of the Mangoatai Stream has provided us with a great educational resource, giving students the ability to immerse themselves in nature during class time and developing their sense of pride and protection of the Mangaotai Stream – a worthy environmental project for current students and future generations” she says.

Project Crimson Trustee, Ruud ‘The Bugman’ Kleinpaste, brought along his six-legged friends and spoke to the children about New Zealand’s native bugs and the importance of looking after our natural environment.

Central Hawke’s Bay Mayor, Peter Butler, also attended the makeover in support of his grandchildren, both students at Argyll East School.  “The makeover on Saturday was a great success. It’s heart-warming to see all the passion for the environment, not only in the school’s pupils, but the community as a whole. Top job Argyll East,” he says.

Andrew Clearwater, Chairman of the Mazda Foundation, says, “It’s great to work with schools like Argyll East who are committed to providing their students with the best outdoor education possible. Environmental education is becoming recognised as an important part of the curriculum in school’s all around New Zealand, and the Mazda Foundation is proud be part of this through the Treemendous School Makeover programme.”

Applications for the 2017 Treemendous Makeovers will close on 8 August 2016, for more information head to www.treemendous.org.nz