Conservation Week with Balmac Intermediate

As part of Conservation Week on September 14, the Trust was lucky enough to have 29 students from Balmacewen Intermediate’s Room 14 to help the staff of the Yellow-eyed Penguin Trust plant pikao at Tavora reserve.

The Nursery has had a four-year relationship with teacher, Lisa Shea. Each year (with the help of some very enthusiastic parents) she brings her year 8 class out to the reserve to do their part in conservation. They planted pikao, Coprosma acerosa (sand coprosma), Hebe eliptica and flax. The staff (Anita, Leith and Margaret) and trustee, Pat Mark, had an opportunity to talk to the students about yellow-eyed penguins, plants and the younger generation’s opportunity to make a difference in conservation.

After a morning of planting, and lunch on the beach, we took the 35-minute walk around the reserve where we were able to observe fur seals from a distance. We had a great time with the school, and thank the students, parents and teachers for all their hard work.