Nature Archives - Enviroschools Marlborough

October 13, 2026

Canvastown School – Native Planting & Web of Life Learning

Planting day Canvastown School took powerful action for te taiao this term, planting 140 native trees and grasses — including mānuka, toetoe, carex, karamū, and harakeke — along the bank that leads to their bottom field. This area borders a stream that flows directly into their local awa, Te Hoiere. The planting was designed to stabilise the soil and reduce erosion, improving water quality downstream. Ready for planting Before and after planting, tamariki explored the Enviroschools “Web of Life” activity, learning about the interconnectedness of all living things. Through this, they discovered how their planting supports the birds, insects, soil life, and water — and even contributes to...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

October 13, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Bee Aware Month in Marlborough

Bee Aware Month is celebrated every September to recognise the important role that bees play in Te Taiao. This year across Marlborough many tamariki had the opportunity to learn and take action for bees. Learning was not limited to just honey bees either, bumblebees were also recognised for their vital role in pollination. To support this learning the New Zealand Bumblebee Conservation Trust gifted multiple copies of the story Bumblebee written by author Rachel Weston. These books were gratefully appreciated and used alongside multiple activities.

: Joy reading the Bumblebee book to tamariki at Springlands Kindergarten

: Tamariki learning about pollination through a game

Our Environmental Educator, Ramona, distributed these amongst centres and kindergartens and also shared them with our Kindergarten Kids Edible Garden facilitator Joy. Joy read the story to...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

September 25, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Waitaria Bay School – Everyday Kaitiakitanga & Solar Learning in the Sounds

Waitaria Bay School welcomed Angela and Sarah in Term 3 for a full day of sharing, exploring, and celebrating the incredible environmental mahi they carry out as part of everyday school life. The visit offered a rare glimpse into the depth of their ongoing projects. Including the independence of their tamariki as active kaitiaki of their remote Marlborough Sounds environment. Every term, the students from Waitaria Bay School travel to Manaroa Head to complete Litter Intelligence monitoring, contributing valuable data to the nationwide Sustainable Coastlines database. Their commitment to this long‑term citizen science project shows a strong understanding of how local action supports national environmental knowledge. Back at school, the tamariki proudly showed us their...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 28, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Enviro Leaders Celebrate Biodiversity on World Environment Day

World Environment Day provided the perfect opportunity for Enviro Leaders to come together and learn fun educational activities to take back to their own schools and share with others. Tamariki from Fairhall, Grovetown, Springlands, St Mary's and Redwoodtown Schools spent the afternoon taking part in four hands-on activities. The activities were designed to help them understand why biodiversity matters and how they can help protect it in their own school grounds and communities. Angela introducing the pests Pest Dectectives At Pest Detectives, they investigated some of New Zealand's introduced predators and learned about the impacts on our native wildlife. Thanks to the team at Picton Dawn Chorus, students were able to get up...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 24, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Outdoor Classroom Day

Outdoor Classroom Day is celebrated internationally twice a year on the 21st May and the 5th November. It is a global movement to set aside dedicated time to get children outdoors. Below we hear from Springlands Kindergarten and Little Acorns Acamdemy about their time spent outdoors. Springlands Kindergarten We spent the morning at McKendry Park. We invited Springlands school to join us, so Cathee and Courtney brought a small group over. Tamariki could do their usual exploring, tree climbing etc, however we also took two mats to set up water paints, pens/pencils on. We used also had paper with double sided tape that they could collect things on. These were then later put all together...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 22, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Connecting with Ngahere Through Matariki at Rapaura School

In the lead up to Matariki, Angela and Ramona visited each class at Rapaura School to explore their ngahere through the whetū Tupuārangi. Identifying the importance of the ngahere Tupuārangi is the star associated with trees, birds, fruits, and all that grows above ground within the domain of Tāne Mahuta. Together, they reflected on why healthy ngahere are important not only for nature, but also for people. They discovered the many benefits forests provide for our community and wildlife. A highlight of the sessions was heading into the school ngahere to get to know the trees that grow there. Tamariki interviewed a leaf, taking a close look at its shape, size, texture,...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 22, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Planting for Future Generations at Thomsons Ford Road

On a beautiful sunny July day, students from Wairau Valley, Springlands, and Rapaura Schools joined the team from Trees for Marlborough for a native tree planting event at Thomsons Ford Road. Organised by Junior Landcare, Wairau Nature Network, and Enviroschools to celebrate Arbor Day. The day was an opportunity for students to make a meaningful contribution to the future of Marlborough's unique environment. Trees ready for planting The planting site is more than just a restoration project. It is also a demonstration site for low-flammability green breaks. With Marlborough's hot, dry summers and strong winds increasing the risk of wildfires, projects like this help landowners and restoration groups make informed decisions...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

April 22, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Maths in Nature

A group of Springlands School students made the most of the sunny autumn days by taking their learning to McKendry Park and using nature as their classroom for maths. They counted chestnuts, created repeating patterns, counted trees, measured the distance between them, and used tally marks and skip counting in 5s to count sticks. Learning was hands-on, meaningful, and lots of fun!

It was made even more special when some residents from the nearby rest home, out for their morning walk, stopped to join in with the learning and conversations. A wonderful example of learning, community, and connection in action.

...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

March 31, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Nature Exploration on the Taylor River

Connecting with nature helps to make us smarter, healthier and happier, this is the purpose for Blenheim’s new nature exploration space. Located on the Taylor River beneath a stand of large trees is Blenheim’s new Nature Exploration Space. The ideal spot with the surrounding environment offering an extension to the dedicated space for running, climbing and exploring. The project started last year with the Council's Environmental Education team and support from Parks and Open Spaces officer Kiri Whiteman. It began with a consultation process with young tamariki in Blenheim. They were asked what they would like to see, do, feel, hear in the new space. Tamariki were encouraged to discuss, draw and even create a...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

March 13, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Sea Week at Whatamango Bay – QCC Rangatahi in Action

A group of 20 Year 7 and 8 rangatahi led by Di Huntly from Queen Charlotte College celebrated Sea Week the best way possible by getting wet, muddy, and hands-on with tuangi/cockle monitoring at Whatamango Bay. The beautiful rimurimu meadow of Whatamango Bay The day was a special collaboration with Glenis Paul from the NZ Marine Studies Centre, Kiara Duke-Love from Te Ātiawa, and the college, bringing together science, mātauranga Māori, and local knowledge in one learning experience. The morning began with Matua Neville Tahuaroa-Watson, who opened the day with a karakia and the laying of a treasured pou. This set the intentions for the mahi ahead and asked for the protection...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

Nature Tag