Students grow a greener community

Local students have done their part to bolster the City of Burnside’s beautiful environment, with dozens of Rose Park Primary School pupils planting over 400 native plants at Gurney Road Garden last weekend. The school community was joined by Deputy Premier Susan Close, Member for Sturt James Stevens, Member for Bragg Jack Batty, Mayor Anne Monceaux and Rose Park & Toorak Gardens Ward Councillor Peter Cornish to assist with the planting project.

The project was brought to life through the combined support of the City of Burnside and Green Adelaide. Council proudly supported the initiative with a donation of two trees and over 200 tube-stock plants, all of which were grown at Council’s Biodiversity Nursery on Conyngham Street. Green Adelaide supported the project with a donation of over 250 tube-stock plants, tree guards and irrigation, as well as funding for site preparation works.

Mayor Anne Monceaux said she was delighted to see the environment play such a prominent role in the students' education.

“We are happy to be supporting Rose Park Primary School in its endeavours to increase environmental awareness and increase canopy cover,” Mayor Monceaux said.

“It will be marvellous when the children come back one day, bringing their own children back to this school and see the growth and development of these plantings. In 10 or 20 years’ time, they will have the satisfaction of knowing that they played a part in this.”

Rose Park Primary School principal Dr Dora Iuliano said the school’s Year 6 Environmentalist team had played an important role in bringing the project to fruition.

“This has been a big collaborative effort between students, staff and parents, as well as the City of Burnside, to replant and revegetate this whole area,” Dr Iuliano said.

“It’s been exciting because our environmentalists have taken on this initiative, they researched the species to bring to this area and we really hope these trees and plants will flourish. We’re really trying to promote student agency and student voice to help them become responsible citizens who are mindful of the environment and of the future.”

Later this year, Kaurna elder Elaine Magias will host a series of educational workshops for students to teach them about Kaurna knowledge of plant species and the importance of protecting the habitat of the area, which will complement the students’ ongoing environmental learning.

Bunnings Kent Town will also provide support for the project with workshops to be hosted for students to allow them to build wooden nest boxes which will support wildlife in Gurney Road Garden.