Youth embrace Tulip Fest

Rotorua Seventh Day Adventist School pupil Otis Burt, 9, is excited to be getting involved in Tulip Fest. Photo / Stephen Parker

Rotorua pupils were not afraid to get their hands dirty as they contributed to tulip bulb planting in preparation for this year's Tulip Fest.

Pupils from Rotorua Seventh Day Adventist School, Rotorua Intermediate School, St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Kawaha Point Primary School and students from the Rotorua School for Young Parents took part in Tulips Dig Deep on Friday.

The educational project aims to connect with children as well as adding vibrancy to Kuirau Park for the whole community to enjoy.

Rotorua Lakes Council sustainable adviser Monica Quirke said the planting exercise was a fun opportunity to educate children and the wider community about the benefits of networking and nurturing our gardens.

"The children have responded well to the exercise and schools are always happy to jump on board and take advantage of these community based educational projects," Ms Quirke said.

Rotorua Intermediate School Year 7 pupils Heriata Rukupo, 11, and Amanda Ives, 11, said they had fun planting the bulbs.

"It's good to get out of the classroom and do some hands on work," Amanda said.

"I got involved in the environment group at school because Amanda was doing it. When I went along I realised it was a lot of fun so decided to keep going," Heriata said.

Both girls agreed it was important to learn how to take care of the environment.

"Planting these bulbs is good because it teaches us about sustainability and the importance of looking after the environment," Amanda said.

"It will be awesome to come back when they bloom and be able to say 'hey, I planted that bulb'," Heriata said.

- For video of the pupils planting tulip bulbs, go to www.dailypost.co.nz.