NATIVE TREES FOR NATIVE BIRDS - SCHOOL PLANTING PROJECT

Now you are rid of pest plants, do you and your students have plans to plant native trees to attract native birds into your school or ECE?

Pest Free Howick Ward are seeking schools who would like to participate in a project to plant native trees on school grounds as habitat for our native birds! This project is a partnership to support your school plant native trees that will be able to grow to their full size and potential, with weeding and maintenance plans in place to protect and nurture them for years to come.

Expressions of interest are now open for this year’s Native Trees for Native Birds project!

This project aims at empowering schools to add native plantings to their schools to build up their ngahere (forest), in turn providing habitat for native bird, reptile and insect life. These extra habitats across a very urban and industrialised Tāmaki Makaura can act as ‘safe stepping stones’ and help to get rare and endangered bird species from pest free islands in the Hauraki Gulf back to the mainland. Each ngahere will also provide opportunities for our tamariki to connect with nature often in a safe environment.

Last year we planted more than 400 native trees with ten local schools. This year, we’re looking forward to enhancing and diversifying those plantings further!

We will work with schools to choose a suitable location, provide ongoing support about how to maintain the space, as well as supporting the physical planting.

If you represent a school aiming to improve their Ngahere and native bird life, then apply today.