Ashburton Courier: October 07, 2021
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NEWS<br />
6 <strong>Ashburton</strong> <strong>Courier</strong>, <strong>October</strong> 7, <strong>2021</strong><br />
www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
Fairton School plants native reserve<br />
DANIEL.TOBIN<br />
@ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
Fairton Schoolpupils recently<br />
got stuck in planting avariety of<br />
nativeplants in apaddock next<br />
to their school.<br />
KānukaMid Canterbury<br />
Regeneration Trust supported<br />
by Advance <strong>Ashburton</strong><br />
facilitated apartnership<br />
between the Talley’sGroup,<br />
who own the land, Fairton<br />
Schooland the wider<br />
community to transform the<br />
land intoanative reserve.<br />
It is hoped the native plants<br />
will add to the local ecosystem<br />
with birds,insectsand lizards<br />
expected to be attracted to the<br />
area once the plants are<br />
established.<br />
The initiative is part of<br />
KānukaTrust’s goal to protect<br />
and improveMid Canterbury’s<br />
nativeplants and ecosystems.<br />
KānukaTrustfounding<br />
trustee Angela Cushnie said the<br />
area will be split into sections,<br />
and the schoolpupils will learn<br />
as the plantsgrow.<br />
‘‘We are creating pathways<br />
through the gardens, and an<br />
open space in the middle which<br />
will be an outdoor classroom, so<br />
the kids will be able to monitor<br />
the lizards the butterfly's the<br />
nativebugs and the birds that<br />
will comehere,’’she said.<br />
One of the trusts pillarsis<br />
‘planting for purpose’, she said.<br />
‘‘So we plant for food, we<br />
plant for shelter, but also we<br />
plant for nature,somakingsure<br />
the rightplantsare in the right<br />
place.<br />
‘‘Nexttouswehave arable<br />
Pupils,teachers and parents helped plant the natives in apaddock next to the school.<br />
farmland, here will be natives,<br />
and avege patch next door so<br />
they servelots of different<br />
purposes and to bringthat to<br />
people’s attention is really<br />
important.’’<br />
Christchurchbased native<br />
restorationbusinessBrailsfords<br />
supplied the plants for planting<br />
and willsupport the school over<br />
the years as the nativesgrow.<br />
Owner Steve Brailsfordsaid<br />
understanding plants is<br />
important.<br />
‘‘Understanding how to<br />
developplant communities,<br />
rather than just putting natives<br />
in, we are putting in about 30<br />
different species, agecko and<br />
lizard habitat, shrubland and<br />
dry woodland.’’ He enjoys<br />
seeing children develop an<br />
interest in nativesand the<br />
environment.<br />
‘‘Ifwestart with<br />
primary kidswho live<br />
in an environment with<br />
PHOTO DANIEL TOBIN<br />
hedges and pine trees...<br />
teaching them aboutplant<br />
communities, and that natives<br />
combine together to provide<br />
resourcesfor the environment.’’<br />
Cost increase for<br />
hall strengthening<br />
Earthquake strengthening work<br />
on theRakaia MemorialHall<br />
could costfar morethaninitial<br />
estimates and what has been<br />
budgeted.<br />
<strong>Ashburton</strong> District Council<br />
(ADC) has completed afull<br />
earthquake assessment of the<br />
halland hasalsoreceived<br />
pricing to strengthenthe<br />
building.<br />
The projectcurrentlyhas a<br />
budget of $150,000.<br />
Councillors were toldlast<br />
weekthatthe workcouldcost<br />
fourorfivetimes than figure.<br />
ADC business support<br />
manager Paul Brake said<br />
council wascurrently reviewing<br />
the strengtheningoptions for the<br />
building.<br />
Areport was being prepared<br />
to consider at alatermeeting<br />
dateand would includethe final<br />
workscope, costs, andany<br />
additional funding required.<br />
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