Native Nurturing

The "All Around Us"  Eco Action group went on a trip to Victoria Park. We went to a CCC programme called Native Nurturing. They learned about the pests that can be found in the hills and also learned to recognise pests' foot prints and scat ( poo ). We found out the impact these pests are having on our native plants and animals and what is being done to help control these pests. Here are some photos taken by parents on the trip. Thank you again to all the parents who were able to help on this trip.

How Banks Peninsular would have looked 20,000 years ago

Changes through the years in the amount of native bush found in Banks Peninsula

This activity had us studying pests' foot prints and their scat

Sadly feral cats like this very stuffed one,  can cause devastation to the native birds in the area.

 

What little pest walked through here?

Bite into the wax please!!!

Ensuring plants are protected from pests and have a chance to grow and not get eaten by pests

Looking across into a gully where there has been a lot of native trees planted

Beeee ready!!

The hive is in place, the beekeeping suits are ready and the bees are coming our way next Tuesday!

We have had an eventful Term 4 in the Plight of the bees. We are proud owners of three species of bees, leaf-cutters, bumblebees and soon to be honey bees.

The wonderful Rachel kindly spent her holidays sewing our fantastic camouflage beekeeping suits and designing our cool veiled hats. Thank you so much Rachel, we love them!!

Mr Winter spent the morning with us today, talking about the parts of the hive and how we will look after the hive once the bees arrive. We are so lucky to have him, he is such a bee expert!
He will be joining us again next week to deliver the nuc of honey bees to their new home.

Mr Ivan Lawson, from the Christchurch South Lions Club, also joined us this morning. The Lions Club are sponsoring the Plight of the bees group and we are so thankful for their donation and involvement in our project.

We only have one more Eco Action session for 2017 so next week we will be focusing on housing our bees in their new hive (with Mr Winter's help) and then we will end our session with a shared morning tea- hopefully some honey inspired treats.