The Burnside Environment Group has been busy this term.

Despite dry conditions we have continued our work in Te Uru (the Burnside Forest) and also in Jellie Park. Generous donations from Trees for Canterbury and the hard work of the Burnside Sustainability Council have meant we have been able to source many native plants to continue our restorations goals. 

In Te Uru the focus is now on developing the understorey plantings. We are planting a mixture of native trees and shrubs that provide food for invertebrates and birds and also will produce the forest canopy of the future. Totara, Matai, Kahikatea, Miro and Rimu are now all establishing themselves with loving care from our students and they are part of a 500-year vision to restore a small part of our local environment back to its former glory.

 We will also be commencing a meuhlenbeckia axillaris planting programme next term to support native butterfly initiatives in our local area. Under the guidance of Rudd Kleinpaste our famous local ‘bug man’, Burnside Primary and ourselves are creating food and breeding habitat for an endangered and rare New Zealand butterfly. Parents and students could easily plant these at home to add value to our programme. (They can be obtained from local nurseries, please contact lj@burnside.school.nz if you would like further information.) 

Rudd visited the Burnside Environment Group this term and he delighted with his wonderful knowledge and his less than friendly travelling weta. Environment Group meets every Wednesday in term time after school on a Wednesday and always welcomes new members.