Cambridge-based native tree nursery Restore Native has donated thousands of trees to rural schools across the North Island to help schoolchildren learn about biodiversity.
Restore Native owner Adam Thompson said it is an important social and environmental initiative targeting rural schools.
“It engages younger Kiwis in their natural environment where they can learn more about native tree planting and biodiversity outside of the classroom.”
Restore Native grows and plants over a million native plants annually, mainly for use in farm plantings to restore land, improve biodiversity and protect waterways.
In addition to several large-scale projects currently in progress in the Waikato region, Restore Native is expanding its efforts by engaging and educating the next generation in environmental sustainability, with a view to providing longer-term benefits to communities.
It received an overwhelming response with 54 schools expressing an interest in receiving bundles of trees, and around 5000 trees are being distributed across the region.
Thompson said that with two young children of his own, he knows kids have a natural ability to cultivate and grow, which needs to be nurtured and encouraged early on.
“We see the kids engaging with the natural world around them by planting a tree at school; it’s a really beautiful thing. It gives them something to connect to and relate to in their learning environment.”
Schools have the freedom to choose where and how their donated trees are planted. Some trees are placed on school grounds, while others are planted by students on neighbouring farms to repair and restore gullies, steep hillsides and stream banks, or protect wetlands and waterways.
Thompson said one participating school in Te Aroha developed a comprehensive plan for its 100 trees, strategically laying them out to create a natural barrier to block road noise.
It has also considered future growth and safety around powerlines.
Thompson owns a 180 hectare beef farm on the outskirts of Cambridge. He said the initiative was influenced by challenging times for farmers.
“When things are hard, it inspires our team to do more good in farming communities. If we can go out to rural communities and get kids engaged with planting trees, everyone benefits.”
Restore Native is no stranger to supporting the community. In response to the devastating effects of Cyclone Gabrielle last year, it led a project to assist those affected in the east coast/Tairāwhiti region by flooding.
The team introduced a “Trees for Tairāwhiti” programme, where the price of their native trees was reduced to $2 to encourage widespread tree donations for the region. For every tree purchased by the community, Restore Native matched it. In the end, over 10,000 trees were given to the affected farmers and landowners in the region.
“We see the value that planting native trees can do for the environment and how much it impacts communities
“That’s why we continue pursuing our purpose – to restore areas back to their full potential. The more we do this and help individuals and farmers to do that also, the better off we all are.”
