A new nursery for Bushy Park - thanks girls

Year 9 students from Whanganui Girls' College got involved creating a new native plant nursery for Bushy Park this week among other conservation activities.

On Wednesday the sanctuary hosted the students as part of Conservation Week.

The students helped make the new nursery from seedlings found around the fence line that keeps predators out of the sanctuary.

"We've basically been walking around the forest and learning about the birds and what type of plants, seeds and how to plant them," said student Eden Hartell-Webb, whose hands were covered in soil from the potting up of the new nursery.

"[We've learned] about the pests and how to keep them out and about the fences.

"I never knew how big the trees got and what the fences were for. I've actually never been here ... "Eden said she had been inspired to learn more about conservation.

Whanganui Girls' College assistant principal, Craig Ritani, said it was good to get the students out of the classroom.

"Education outside of the classroom is what we're aiming for. This is sort of their second outing as a whole year group.

"You can see now they're just interested and engaged in what they're doing so any chance to get them outside of the classroom, to keep students engaged is a positive thing."

Bushy Park Conservation :Conservation Week at Bushy Park - Whanganui Girls College visiting - bunch of different activities showing conservation work at Bushy Park Stuart Munro Wanganui Chroni

Aside from the group of girls setting up the new nursery, other groups were walking through the forest and learning about the native plants and birds, learning about the traps set for predators and drawing scenery at the sanctuary's wetlands.

Sanctuary manager Mandy Brooke said as it was Conservation Week, the sanctuary decided to make a slight deviation on the normal activities carried out with school visits.

The new nursery was made up of all native trees: tarata, kawakawa, rewarewa, titoki, pukatea.

Two Whanganui Girls' College students drawing native bush down at the Bushy Park wetlands. Photo / Stuart Munro