Sherwood Gully has had a native tree and shrub makeover after a planting session by Otumoetai College students last week to bring back native bird life beside the Matua Salt Marsh and Tauranga Harbour.
The students were inspired to take action after attending Bay of Plenty Regional Council's Taiohi-Taiao YouthJam environmental youth conference in May this year; an event designed to encourage them to explore what "freshwater means to them" and attracted 61 secondary students from nine Bay of Plenty schools.
Youth Jam co-ordinator Janie Stevenson said students spoke about their desire to restore the Sherwood Gully next to their school and helped motivate other local secondary schools to take action to protect their local environments and waterways.
"We look forward to seeing similar projects under way soon at Tauranga Girls' College and Papamoa College," she said.
Papamoa College students had been testing water quality at three sites along the Kaituna River and helping regional council staff with riparian planting. The students' next goal is to start planting alongside the storm water drains near their school.
Tauranga Girls' College students were also working on a restoration plan for part of the gully next to their school, near Fraser Cove. Students have already created a volunteer roster to plant and care for native trees this winter.
Miss Stevenson said that the aim of Youth Jam was to foster environmental awareness, youth leadership and participation.
