Local schools dig for treasure at Turakina Beach
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Margaret Metcalfe
Date: 11 September 2008
There's gold at Turakina Beach! And it's all thanks to students from Kimbolton School, Cheltenham School and College Street Normal School, Hato Paora, Koitiata Coast Care, and the Department of Conservation's Seeds for Schools program.
The program, which has been running for four years now, invites local schools to get involved in the propagation and planting of the threatened endemic coastal plant, Golden Sand Sedge or Pingao. It allows them to see the whole process, from sowing the seed, to potting the seedlings on into special root training trays, to planting out at the beach. They get to learn about the sand-binding properties of the plant, and begin to understand about the coastal environment. Kimbolton School principal Linda Campbell says "the students had a wonderful day with Department of Conservation staff at Turakina Beach planting out pingao that they had grown, along with plants that were provided by DOC."
This sand-binding plant, which used to be abundant on our coast, is noted for its lovely golden colour. It is losing ground to introduced coastal plants such marram grass, and is a favourite snack for rabbits.
Kimbolton, Cheltenham, and College St
Normal students being quizzed on their
coastal plant knowledge
Recently about 60 students from the four local schools took part in two planting days at Turakina Beach. With assistance from Koitiata Coast Care members Arnold Nation and Peter Fraser and several DOC staff, the team dug deep to plant over 200 Pingao amongst the dunes. Linda Campbell, principal of Kimbolton School is enthusiastic about the project "Students from Kimbolton School are proud to be part of the Seeds for Schools programme and of their success in growing pingao" she said.
Koitiata Coast Care members collect pingao seed from Turakina Beach in the summer and propagate thousands of plants hydroponically, which they don
ate to DOC for "Seeds for Schools". Though the 2008/09 crop is only just beginning to germinate, Arnold Nation expects it will be a bumper season. "It looks like there will be maybe 10,000 seedlings coming through so we will need lots of help this year" said Mr Nation.
DOC is looking to extend the program to include more community groups and schools, and encourage participation from local businesses. Any assistance with the program will be greatly appreciated.