Successful project profiles

St Mary’s Primary - Northcote

Tane's Trail

St Mary's Primary School students have transformed an unloved area of their Northcote school into a captivating native forest.

Students, from the school which is an Enviroschool, started the ‘Tane's Trail' project in 2006. The aim was to create an ‘outside classroom' where they could learn and feel inspired by.

A once unloved area of St Mary’s Primary School has been transformed into an ‘outdoor classroom’ where students can learn and feel inspired.

St Mary’s Primary School ‘enviroleaders’ spearheaded the project.

The students' plan was to create a nature trail within the school, complete with a boardwalk, seating and educational signs designed by the students. With help from volunteers, the area was cleared of weeds and replaced with native trees to make it an attractive place for native birds.

Hundreds of volunteers, including teachers and parents, and restoration and ecology experts were involved in the project, which received a grant from Auckland Regional Council's Environmental Initiatives Fund (EIF).

As part of the project students have learned how to spot weeds and identify native plants and native birds.

Another spin-off is there has been an increased awareness of environmental issues at the school and within the community.