Students Celebrate Environment Week

The students at Rev. H.J. MacDonald School in Heatherton are celebrating Environment Week in a big way by creating a natural wildlife habitat on their school grounds.

The 120 students are kicking off their habitat project by planting two vegetable gardens in support of the local food bank.

Each grade, from Primary to Six, is responsible for planting and tending a different area. Besides the vegetable gardens, the students will plant a bog garden, a butterfly garden, two red- maple plots, a rose corner and a spruce corner-woodland grove. They also will build an outdoor classroom construction.

The students, aged five to 12, participated in the original decision of how their school ground could be improved by writing and drawing their ideas.

Four students currently sit on the school’s planning committee. All the students have been responsible for plowing, composting, harrowing, liming and levelling their former lawn to make room for the new habitats.

"The idea was to enhance the school grounds in a natural way, that both students and adults could support," said principal George Murphy. "Everyone seems to be enjoying it."

Funding for the school''s new habitats has been provided by the Tree Canada Foundation, Environment Canada, the Canadian Wildlife Federation, TD Canada Trust, Home Hardware and the Toyota Evergreen Learning Grounds Program.

Mr. Murphy said the project not only ties in to each class’s curriculum, but it also teaches environmental stewardship.

"I am especially proud of all of you children here today,” said the area’s legislature member, Angus MacIsaac, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. He was speaking on behalf of Environment and Labour Minister David Morse at a ceremony today officially launching the project.

“The trees you plant will make your school yard beautiful and will make the air we breathe cleaner,” Mr. MacIsaac said. “The garden you plant today will help feed those most in need. These are wonderful accomplishments.”

Representatives from the Department of Environment and Labour, the Tree Canada Foundation and the Nova Scotia Food Banks participated in the ceremony.

The vegetable gardens are in support of "Plant a Row, Grow a Row," a national program that encourages individuals and communities to grown food for their local food bank.