March 2007 Recipients
Treemendous School Makeovers is a joint initiative by the Mazda Foundation and Project Crimson which launched in 2007 to give New Zealand primary and intermediate schools the chance to improve and enhance their school grounds through the planting of native trees. Treemendous School Makeovers gives New Zealand primary and intermediate schools the chance to improve and enhance their school grounds through the planting of native trees.
Each year four schools are selected to get a visit from the Treemendous Team, who, along with the school community, create a beautiful native tree garden that everyone can enjoy for generations.
The inaugural recipients are Hamilton’s Ohaupo School, Kaikohe’s Ohaeawai School, Gisborne’s Wainui Beach School and Dunedin’s Karitane School – chosen from 188 colourful applications from schools throughout the country.
Ohaeawai School plans to create a garden of native trees which will attract birds, including the Northland native bird, the Kukupa – the school’s representative symbol.
Karitane School will create a garden along the front of the school as a buffer between the traffic and play area to provide shade and wind protection.
Ohaupo School will plant the area in front of its two new classrooms which formerly held the school’s swimming pool so it connects to the existing native bush on the back fence line which has trees as old as the school (prior to 1870).
Wainui Beach School’s plan is to create a bush clad area along the grassed front boundary which will attract native birds and offer the children a place to learn, relax and play. Students will be taught to recognise the different tree species and learn their Maori name, botanical name and their medicinal properties. The Treemendous School Makeovers will take place in early 2008.
www.mazdafoundation.org.nz/treemendous
