It’s never too early to learn about our impact on land, water and other natural resources – and what we can do to maintain, preserve and protect the natural environment. That’s why Yarra Glen Preschool Association Inc. sought to set up regular nature kinder sessions for both their 3/4-year-old and 4/5-year-old groups to explore the topic of biodiversity within their preschool and local community.
Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary School in Cowes, Victoria, opened in 2018 with the vision of transforming the school site from a weed ridden paddock to a haven for Phillip Islands’ bush and wetland creatures.
Through a lot of hard work and drawing inspiration from the nearby Ramsar Listed Rhyll Wetlands and Oswin Roberts Reserve, they’ve successfully created bushland and wetland habitat refuges. In addition, thanks to their 2022 Victorian Junior Landcare and Grant, the school has also established a walking trail within school grounds aimed at promoting opportunities for students to care for indigenous plants and animals; mentor lifelong environmental awareness; and to help spread the ‘Victorians value nature’ message to all.
Located on the land of the Boonwurrung people, Mount Eliza Secondary College put their 2022 Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grant towards creating real and lasting connections with local First Nations people. They did so through the collaborative building of a native kitchen garden and indigenous garden resting place. Their project also sought to increase the biodiversity of local species in the college gardens by producing pollen and seeds to help keep the increasingly threatened local species gene pool alive.
Woolworths Junior Landcare grant recipient, Heathfield Primary School in South Australia, embarked on an exciting project to build a bush tucker garden, inviting all students to participate in growing native edible plants. Adding an artistic touch, a mural was painted on the planter tubs, connecting bush food with art. Students planted a variety of bush tucker plants, including Warragal greens, as part of the kitchen garden program. Collaborating with Heathfield High, students enjoyed not only painting the mural on the tubs but also tasted delicious creations cooked with the bush tucker plants. The objective of the project was to provide an inclusive gardening experience, involving children in designing, growing, caring for, and harvesting the produce. The expected outcomes included hands-on learning of the plant life cycle, awareness of First Nations culture through the cultivation of a bush tucker garden, and an appreciation for indigenous edible plants.