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Linkwater School – Bee Awareness, Seed Bombs & A Senior Trapline Project

This term, Linkwater School has been buzzing with purposeful environmental action.

As part of Bee Awareness Month, the Juniors welcomed Sarah Huntley into their classroom to explore the vital role bees play in pollination and ecosystem health. Tamariki learned how bees support the food systems we rely on. Why protecting them matters, and how small actions can make a big difference.

To put their learning into action, the Juniors made flower seed bombs — a fun, hands‑on way to create future food sources for pollinators. The excitement was contagious, with students proudly shaping, rolling, and planning where their seed bombs would be scattered to help bees thrive around their kura and community.

Meanwhile, a passionate group of Seniors set their sights on a much bigger challenge: establishing a pest‑trapping line on the neighbouring farm. With support from Te Hoiere Project, Forest & Bird, and Picton Dawn Chorus, students learned how different traps work and why a variety is needed to target mice, rats, stoats, and possums.

They mapped out the farm, identified high‑risk areas, and worked together to place traps safely and effectively. The project demanded teamwork, problem‑solving, and a strong sense of responsibility — all of which the Seniors demonstrated with pride.

The DOC200 dontaed by Forest and Bird

Their kaiako, Emily Soward, explained that this kind of learning is deeply woven into Linkwater School life. Environmental action isn’t a one‑off event; it’s part of the rhythm of the kura. Students are so inspired by their environmental mahi that many have used these topics in their school speeches and writing activities, bringing their real‑world experiences into the classroom.

This term’s learning reflects Linkwater School’s commitment to nurturing confident, capable young kaitiaki — from seed bombs to traplines, every action contributing to a healthier local environment.