Gardening helps pupils learn about environment

In the past two years, Caversham School has worked hard at encouraging pupils to care for the planet through an understanding of the environment. To this end, pupils and teachers have become involved in gardening.

Caversham School began an edible garden 18 months ago with basic vegetables and herbs, and this year started a potato plot so that every child in the school could plant a potato.

The second part of the school's efforts has been in planting native trees.

For two consecutive years, each child in the school has planted a native tree to help beautify the grounds, give the space a real New Zealand feel and to attract native birds.

This is all part of an effort to look at living in a holistic sense, so the children understand the connections between the components of healthy living - the environment, food, exercise and wellbeing.

Caversham School has been supported in its endeavours by Blueskin Nurseries at Waitati and Approach learning centre, which has provided ‘‘national treasure'' Sally to help in the garden. School caretaker Jim also helps to keep the gardens trim and watered.

The family of every pupil has a cookbook provided by the Cancer Society, and Caversham School has also bought He Kete Taoka, a resource kit which has assisted in the productions of two posters - ‘‘The Trees and Plants of Caversham School'' and ‘‘The Birds of Caversham School''.