Our Hands-on Wetland
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday October 14, 2003
NOT many schools can boast of having their very own wetlands.
``The idea came from the children," said Mrs Taylor, a Year Three teacher at Holy Family.
The principal, Mr Twohill, gave the idea the thumbs up and plans got underway. A spot was chosen where the grass didn't grow and the University of Newcastle was contacted for design ideas.
Mountain industries donated loads of clay and rocks, TAFE students built the boardwalk and prize money from an environmental competition paid for fencing around the area.
The Franciscans donated $1000 for the water feature that oxygenates the water and Hunter Water supplied a water tank.
Newcastle City Council supplied the mulch and the school's ``garden grubs" grew the plants that were planted in the wetland area.
To add some colour, local mosaic designer Carolyn Peadie helped Year Three create large dragonflies, lillies and frogs on rocks around the wetlands using tiles.
The teachers plan to use it as a hands-on ``learnscape".
There will be opportunities to study water quality using the Water Watch kit and observe wetland creatures in a properly balanced ecosystem that will look after itself.
``The children can't wait to see what birds will visit," said Year Six teacher, Mrs Drinkwater.
© 2003 Newcastle Herald