Wetlands Reflections

22 May 2009

The second session at the wetlands started with a review of the hazards and safety plan we set up to refresh our memories and get us on the right track for our activity.

We made our way to the shade house to check on the seedlings that were potted up last year. The growth amazed us. They had at least trebled in size and looked as though they were good healthy titoki specimens.

The next task was to get stuck into some weeding. To make it a bit more exciting and fun, there was a competition to see which group could get the longest and fattest dock root.
The Toitoi group won the longest root competition and the Hebes won the fattest competition.

Our last task was to plant some maire trees in the newly cleared ground amongst the grasses and other sheltering plants.

Environmental Education at Mapua Wetlands


May 8th was our first visit to the Mapua Wetlands for 2009. Most of us had been part of the Environmental Education programme last year so we were excited about going again because we had great memories of the activities carried out to help preserve and restore this wonderful habitat. The students who were new to the project were looking forward to finding out what it was all about.

Janet and David, our educators, met us and told us they were glad so many students had come back and welcomed the new students.
The session was an orientation and review session setting the scene for safety and knowing our way around the different areas within the wetland. We were amazed at how much the plants had grown. Some of the paths were overgrown and we had to bend down and push our way through the branches.
The first activity was to ensure we were aware of the hazards and dangers and more importantly how to minimise or eliminate the dangers by working out what to do or wear to be safe. For example we need to walk carefully over the plank bridge leading to the Golden Triangle, wear gloves when handling compost to avoid infections.
The second activity was an orienteering competition. Each group had to follow clues to find letters that made up the name of a plant in the wetland. The Hebe Team won the race.
We are thankful that Janet and David are giving us this opportunity and we are looking forward to the rest of the programme.