Nor'West News: December 07, 2023

Thursday December 7 2023 5
Collaborative planting efforts win award
A FOREST FULL: (From left) Zara Clark, Tess Sitjes, Sana Fujii and Ruby Young of St Margaret’s College were part of 24 school teams which played a part
in planting more than 30,000 natives this year.
• By Sasha Watson
ST MARGARET’S College was
one of 24 schools which played
a part in planting more than
30,000 natives in the city’s red
zone this year.
They have been recognised
as part of an outstanding
collaboration
with the Eco
Action Nursery
Trust, and
the wider
community.
Trust chair
David Newton
said while it
David
Newton
was the trust
which received
the outstanding collaboration
award at the Sustainable
Business Network awards
ceremony, it was the “multiple
collaborations between the trust,
the community, the council,
the schools and organisations”
which played an integral part in
the win.
Said Newton: “It shows us
that we can’t do this alone
and recognises the strength of
working together.”
The trust grows native trees
and plants suitable for native
bird food and habitats within
the red zone, sourced from the
Travis Wetlands.
Said St Margaret’s director
of community relations Jane
Lougher: “We are thrilled to have
been part of a collective effort to
plant more than 30,000 native
plants this year, 5500 of which
were propagated in our own St
Margaret’s College nursery with
the support of our middle and
senior students.
“Congratulations to
Eco-Action Nursery Trust,
Õtautahi-Christchurch and
Waitaha-Canterbury for this
well-deserved recognition.”
The trust was founded in
2016 as a way to create learning
opportunities for students
by taking action in their
communities to tackle climate
change.
Said Newton: “The schools
are a fundamental part of
the project, as the students
learn practical skills, more
about horticulture and the
environment.
“They have expressed how they
feel better about their impact
on climate change through this
project.”
To date, the satellite nurseries
have contributed 20,764
volunteer hours of planting.
The sustainable business
awards, which have been
running for 21 years, recognise
and celebrate success in
sustainability.
Next year, the trust is looking
to double the number of plants
grown to about 60,000.
Said Newton: “We’ll just keep
doing what we do – I want to get
as many plants in the ground
within the next 10 years before
I die.”
Santa will be in centre from Saturday
2 nd December until Christmas Eve.
Every child that visits Santa
will receive a FREE book.*
Book your visit with Santa by
scanning the QR code or
visit northlands.co.nz
Santa is located outside
ANZ and Michael Hill.
*while stocks last