Preschoolers take the lead with innovative biodiversity project

Cust Preschool students were assisted by Year 5 and 6 students from Cust School to plant 500 seedlings at Jack Graham Reserve in late April. The preschoolers raised the native seedlings in a greenhouse at their school provided by Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL)

A group of 25 Cust Preschool children recently planted 500 native seedlings at Jack Graham Reserve in Cust. The preschool is part of a seedlings in school project supported by Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL) which aims to foster a life-long connection between children and the environment around them.

The programme provides a greenhouse, seedlings and a biodiversity project team member who works closely with the school to provide practical environmental education that helps children to take action to improve the environment in their local area.

Cust Preschool joined the seedlings in school project four years ago and since then the children have raised and planted around 900 native plants at Jack Graham Reserve. The children chose the site as it is a meaningful place that they use for picnics and recreational activities with their families.

Cust Preschool owner Amy Blatch says the project is changing the way her children view the world around them.“The children have developed a really strong sense of what they can do to look after the earth. Having the greenhouse here at preschool and growing the plants from seed helps them see that we can do something small each day to help the plants grow.

“It’s incredibly meaningful for the children to be able to go to the reserve and see how their plants are thriving. It gives them a powerful connection to the environment and a positive view of what they can do in their backyard to change the world around them.”

Amy says having a group of year 5 and 6 Cust School students to help the preschoolers plant their native seedlings at the recent planting day is also an impactful way of connecting the community.

“Having Cust School students helping us meant that all the children, including our nursery, were able to be part of this special planting day. We have strong connections in our community, and we work together to achieve practical outcomes. The children and their families will be able to remember what they did here and continue to pass those stories on through their families over the generations by revisiting the site and seeing positive progress for the environment.”

Biodiversity project lead Dan Cameron says that working with Cust Preschool to restore indigenous biodiversity along the edges of the Cust River which flows through Jack Graham Reserve is extremely rewarding.

“Right from the start the children have been very enthusiastic. We tailor the programme to their level, and they are involved throughout the entire process of planting, growing and caring for the seedlings.”

Dan says the next step for the children is to grow native plants from locally sourced seedlings which have been eco-sourced from nearby planting projects.
“This is a sustainable grassroots initiative where the students are the leaders and we are supporting them. When you can see the entire lifecycle of the plant from sourcing the seeds through to planting the seedlings you have a special appreciation for the environment which you will carry with you throughout your life.”

Thanks to a partnership with the Waimakariri District Council (WDC), maintenance of the planting area will be carried out by WDC. Waimakariri District Council senior biodiversity ranger Michael Kwant describes it is a “win-win” for the Council and for the project.

“Dan and the Cust students have taken a bit of a damp site on the reserve and improved it with the planting project, so we are happy to facilitate the long-term maintenance of the site. When people in the community have the energy and vision to collaborate on improving the environment, it is a win for everyone.”