Children in blue school uniforms and bucket hats planting native trees

Hundreds of students from primary schools around the district got their hands dirty to help Selwyn District Council staff and their project partners plant thousands of native plants whilst learning about restoring our native forests.

Taking advantage of the mild spring weather, the students from Ararira Springs School, Kirwee Model School, Rolleston Christian School, Weedons School, Prebbleton School and Leeston Consolidated School escaped the classroom to work alongside the council’s Environment and Reserves Teams to plant natives and learn about indigenous biodiversity.

“Many hands make light work, so it has been wonderful to have so many keen, young people helping us out to restore our native vegetation in different parts of the district,” says Biodiversity Specialist Johanna Blakely from the Selwyn District Council, who adds that the council collaborated closely with Te Ara Kākāriki  and Enviroschools to create these learning opportunities.

Blakely explains that the planting days are an important part of the council’s responsibility to promote, protect, and restore indigenous vegetation.

“One of the top priorities in the Selwyn Biodiversity Strategy is to increase the number of native plants, but also to create learning opportunities for education providers, so we are really pleased to have so many schools and so many students involved and getting their hands in the soil,” says the council’s Environmental Team Leader Andrew Spanton.

Nearly 70 students from Ararira Springs School were the first group in action on the first day of spring, planting 250 natives at the Lincoln Wetland, followed by Kirwee Model School a few days later planting a similar number in the Courtney Domain.

Rolleston Christian School spent their planting day at the Tārerekautuku Yarrs Lagoon, Prebbleton School focused on Conductors Swale, Leeston Consolidated School students planted at Brookside Gravel Reserve along the Waiwhio Irwell River, while Weedons School students got busy at Reid’s Pit on the outskirts of Rolleston.

“Aside from the planting, they also investigate instream fish and insects and learn about the medicinal properties of the plants,” says Blakely, who is grateful for the schools that are committed to the planting programmes.

“Weedons School has been coming back to Reid’s Pit for several years now and helped to turn the former quarry into a lovely green destination for Rolleston people to go for a walk. They even had the school’s cross-country races out there,” says Blakely, who adds the growing number of plants also has additional maintenance benefits.

“The Reserves Team is really happy because they no longer have to mow those areas, especially on steep hills, which saves them time and saves ratepayers money over the long term,” says Blakely.

She explains that the council is committed to increasing indigenous vegetation cover and associated native wildlife habitat across council reserves and parks. This is particularly important for the lower Canterbury Plains, which have less than 1% of native plant cover remaining.

“ We keep working with the community to increase the indigenous footprint in our public spaces and on private properties,” says Blakely, who adds that educating the young people of the district is a valuable investment in future environmental efforts.

“These young people will now have a better appreciation and understanding of the native vegetation, which will hopefully inspire them and their families to plant a few trees themselves and help to look after our existing indigenous flora.”

Find more information on Selwyn’s Biodiversity Strategy
Find groups or schools to get involved in planting days.

Last modified: 15 Sep 2026 9:56am