Improving school grounds
Toronto High School, NSW
What did they do?
Toronto High School is a secondary school near Newcastle, NSW, with over 800 students in years 7-12. Students at the school have planted over 5000 native plants to improve the school grounds and restore the adjacent stream bank.
How did they do it?
The project was started by three year 11 students who were enthusiastic and passionate about repairing an area of the school grounds near a stream bank. The area is part of a wetland that had been severely degraded. With the assistance of their biology teacher the students formulated a plan to restore the area. They presented their plan to the school principal and head teachers to gain their support.
The group worked with the local community and formed the Toronto High School Landcare group. They arranged sponsorship from local companies and received a grant from the local council to purchase equipment. The Landcare group and other classes at the school removed all the weeds from the stream bank and replaced them with local native plants. The bank has almost been restored to its native state. They also planted new trees in the school grounds near the stream bank.
Toronto High and the students involved have been rewarded for their efforts. They won the 2002 Volvo Young Environmentalists Awards in Australia and travelled to Sweden to received second prize in the international competition. They also received two Metro Pride awards in 2003 from Keep Australia Beautiful.
The school planted over 5000 native plants in the school grounds and on the stream bank. Photo by Greg Smith. Courtesy Toronto High School.
Thanks to Toronto High School, NSW
» www.toronto-h.schools.nsw.edu.au