Kindy Uses Funding to Boost Native Biodiversity and Edible Garden
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One Tree Hill Kindergarten were planning an annual working bee to spruce up their outdoor play areas, and as a not-for-profit early childhood centre run by a committee of parents, they were thrilled to have their work supported by the Love Your Neighbourhood fund. We caught up with head teacher Jenni Skerritt who showed us what the families had accomplished together.
Can you tell us more about your working bee?
Every year we have a working bee where families and teachers come together to tidy up the kindy grounds and gardens. This year, we wanted to work in the backyard area where the kids play. It’s a wonderful area with an old boat and toadstools seats and the kids love playing make believe here, but the weed mat was wearing out and weeds were coming through.
On the day itself, we took out all the invasive weeds around the fairy garden, and used the money to purchase what we needed for the job – weed matting, a wheelbarrow and bark, some tools and gloves, and native plants like hebes to add to some of the ones we already have. We already have native birds like kererū, pīwakawaka and silver eye come through, so we wanted to get more food in for them.
We also used some of the funds to put some strawberry plants into our edible garden, and added to the bee and butterfly garden out the front.
It took us about three hours, with a good turnout of parents, teachers and kids all coming to help out.
How have the kids been enjoying the space since?
They love it. It gives them more space because we removed some overgrown plants that limited our supervision. The toadstool seats had gotten a bit buried, and now they’re getting to enjoy that again. They loved one of the new plants so much that they pulled all the pretty leaves off, so we’ve had to buy a new one and barricade that off while it gets established. And now whenever the kids see the odd weed pop up, they’ll jump in and help to remove that.
They also love helping in the edible garden and are regularly down there looking at the strawberries. They’re getting really excited now that the flowers have come up. And as soon as they see any of the teachers down there with a spade, they all come along and see what they can do to help.
What would you say to any other ECE or school that’s thinking about applying for it?
Definitely go for it – it’s been great for us. It was one of our committee members who applied on our behalf, and from what I understand it was really straightforward. We were stoked when it got approved. When we purchased what we needed, I just had to keep the receipts together to send them on.
The fund helped us to get tools that will be helpful for other projects too, and because we’re a non-profit community kindy, it just made everything financially easier.
Love Your Neighbourhood funding of up to $500 is available for groups for environmental and volunteer-driven initiatives in the Henderson-Massey, Whau, Waitākere Ranges or Maungakiekie-Tāmaki local board areas. Find out more and apply now to get a quick response
Thank you to the local boards above for supporting community-led environmental action.
