Growing Green Futures at Wattle Park Kindergarten
Earlier this year, Wattle Park Kindergarten was recognised as winners of the City of Burnside Environment Awards, celebrating their outstanding commitment to sustainability and environmental education. The $2,000 prize has since been invested into their thriving nature-play and sustainable gardening initiatives, helping to boost and refresh current projects.
Seven raised garden beds form the heart of the kindy’s sustainability program, where little hands plant, water and harvest seasonal vegetables. These gardens are more than just a source of fresh produce, they are outdoor learning and development centres where the children discover the cycles of life, the importance of biodiversity and the joy and patience of growing your own food.
Director, Emma Schulz, said the children were passionate about the gardens and took great care in ensuring their growth.
‘This sort of nature play helps the children develop awareness of their surroundings, their environment and how to care for plants and creatures.’
The kindy also weaves Kaurna language into its learning environment, with simple cards showing the Kaurna names for plants and other natural elements. These gentle reminders help children build respect for culture while deepening their connection to the land.
Utilising the City of Burnside’s other environmental programs, Wattle Park Kindergarten has received beautiful native flowers and grasses from the City of Burnside’s annual Native Plant Giveaway and juvenile native wattle trees through the annual Native Tree Giveaway. All of which has gone towards further establishing the lush gardens.
The kindergarten’s commitment to sustainability extends into the wider community through the much-loved ‘Wattle Box’ - a produce-sharing stall hung on the exterior fence. Families and neighbours contribute homegrown vegetables, herbs and seedlings, creating a point of contact for wider community interaction. Funds raised are invested directly into the gardens, ensuring the cycle of growth continues.
The Environment Award prize money has helped further support these projects, funding seeds, plants and garden infrastructure, as well as supporting activities that encourage families to get involved.
‘The City of Burnside is incredible at supporting the environment through the giveaways and programs like the Environment Awards, and by encouraging the community to be involved in conservation,’ Emma said.
Looking ahead, Wattle Park Kindergarten plans to grow even further. Adding fruit trees, running more sustainability workshops, and creating new opportunities for children and families to learn together.
The success of the program shows how small actions can make a big difference. From tiny hands planting seeds to a community coming together around the Wattle Box, Wattle Park Kindergarten is cultivating not only fresh produce but also a culture of care, resilience and environmental responsibility that will grow for generations to come.
The City of Burnside Environment Awards nominations will reopen early in 2026 with winners announced at the annual Environment and Sustainability Expo.
