Newport and Altona Meadows students have received an extra hand to exercise their green thumbs and learn about the benefits of connecting with nature as part of new grants received recently.
Queen Of Peace Parish Primary School, Newport Gardens Early Years Centre and Newport Lakes Primary School received grants of up to $1000 under the fourth round of the Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants recently.
Queen of Peace Primary School sustainability leader Peter Carlisle said the funding would contribute to the second stage of the school’s bush tucker garden would expand on the program’s focus on the Aboriginal links within the area and which plants can be used for food.
“Students were involved in researching appropriate native plants as well as appropriate bush tucker plants that are safe for the garden,” he said.
“The construction and the ongoing maintenance of the garden also supports students who have additional learning needs.
“It provides a calm space where they are not overwhelmed by standard classroom environments.”
Newport Lakes Primary School Junior School Council co-ordinator Carol Martins said the funding would help the school reintroduce native plants and a bush tucker garden into the school grounds.
“Our aim is to have more native plants and animals in our grounds and to build awareness among the student population about the importance of native plants and about caring for our environment in general,” she said.
“The students are also keen to build possum or bird homes to attract native animals and to decorate the space with appropriate signage and will promote the project to the rest of the school.”
Newport Gardens Early Years Centre teacher Carolyn Webb said the grant would contribute to clean-up work at the kindergarten’s bush gardens.
“The aim is to redo our veggie patch and to embed some indigenous plants into our produce,” she said.
Matthew Sims
