29 June 2004

Project Twin Streams storms ahead

Rutherford High School students helped plant 400 toetoe and carex plants on the Pixie Stream riverbank this week for Project Twin Streams, in association with the Waitakere City Council.

The students achieved this in just over an hour along 20m of riverbank on the boundary of Rutherford High School and Jack Colvin Park.

A Project Twin Streams initiative, the planting is one of three that has successfully planted over 1400 native plants since May this year. Planting riverbanks such as this one helps clean the water, reduce flooding and stabilise stream banks.

Science teacher Vivienne McCracken says, “It is a good way to teach pupils that if each person does their own bit it makes a huge amount of difference.

It’s about a completely integrated storm water, stream bed and planting project that will help to improve the environment drastically and teach our students important lessons at the same time,” she says.

Students tested water levels, measured the riverbank and learnt about streams before they started planting.

Christine Henley, a project co-ordinator for Project Twin Streams, enjoys working with students who are so motivated.

“The students will get a lot of personal satisfaction from the project, especially as many of them come through the area to go to school,” says Ms Henley.

Find out about the next Project Twin Streams event at www.waitakere.govt.nz.
If you’d like to know more about Project Twin Streams email twinstreams@waitakere.govt.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media