St Joseph’s School Planting the Future at Almadale Reserve

Students from St Joseph’s School rolled up their sleeves for a planting day at Almadale Reserve as part of their Forest School journey. With hands-on support from the Manawatū District Council and Green By Nature, the students planted 500 trees and shrubs in a couple of hours.

St Joseph’s School established their Forest School programme in 2023, seeing classes visit Almadale Reserve every Friday to engage in nature based learning. In late 2024, MDC’s Community Assets Liaison James Adamson, supported the school with applying for the Horizon’s Regional Council Kanorau Koiora Taketake Indigenous Biodiversity Community Grant. The grant successfully funded 500 trees and shrubs sourced from MDC’s own Kawakawa Nursery, including tōtara, mataī, tawa, kahikatea, kanuka and cabbage trees. In preparation for the planting day, Council contractors cleared the blackberry and other vegetation from the reserve, before strategically placing plants in their specific spots with the best soil conditions for planting.

Alongside St Joseph's School teacher Mr Mark Searle and parent supervisors, the group of (around) 25 students embraced the planting with full force and enthusiasm.  The year 0 and 1 students were paired with a big buddy from year 7 or 8, using their shared muscle power to push spades through the sandy landscape. Little hands championed the planting, as the big buddies watched the younger pupils get their gloves dirty, placing the plants into the ground before covering with sand and using their heels to flatten the surface. The students reminded each other of the process, “plant the tree and make a well in the soil for water to catch in” they reiterated.

“One day, the future St Joseph's students will appreciate these trees” their teacher Mr Mark Searle commented, as the students' faces lit up realising the plants will eventually grow taller than them! They couldn’t contain their excitement at being outside the classroom, and their colourful gumboots wasted no time splashing through every muddy puddle in sight.

MDC is proud to support St Joseph’s School with their Forest School programme. Educating our youth on the environment and importance of conservation is an invaluable lesson, preserving Almadale Reserve, and the wider Manawatū District’s environment, for generations to come.

Almadale Scenic Reserve and St Joseph's School's Forest School signage.

Students planting shrubs at Almadale Reserve.

Students choosing plants from Green by Nature's wheelbarrow.

Students listening to the pre-planting briefing by Green by Nature.