Over the last two weeks ākonga from Turuki have been helping the Kowhai Trust with planting at the new gardens at Te Nikau Hospital.

Kowhai Trust invited Turuki ākonga to help with their landscaping project at the southern end of Te Nikau Hospital. Across two days Turuki ākonga planted over 200 shrubs, flaxes and grasses along a bank that east facing patients look out to. The landscaping plan also includes steps leading down from the bank with a reinstated mosaic from the old hospital, a pergola, sensory garden, and a large granite table with curved benches. Community groups, businesses and individuals have supported the Kowhai Trust to carry out this project. The end result will benefit patients, visitors and staff of Te Nikau hospital. 

It was really interesting to learn about how the landscaping has been specially designed to enhance the wellbeing of those who experience it. The Gossamer grass (also known as Wind grass) that ākonga planted was selected because of the way it moves when wind blows through it, the movement creates kinetic energy and visual stimulus. The sensory garden is going to include plants that stimulate taste, smell, touch or sight. 

We would like to say a big thankyou to Margaret Crawford, Trish Roney, the Kowhai Trust and Te Nikau Hospital for inviting Turuki to be part of your project.

 
Next year we will be looking for a range of community projects that we can contribute to. Please get in touch with Lara Thompson if you have any projects that will provide ākonga opportunities to contribute to our community while learning in a meaningful and authentic setting - thompsonl@greyhigh.school.nz