Winter planting will begin on the third Sunday in Term 2, and Jordy says everyone in the school community is invited to turn up with gumboots and spades to plant an estimated 800 new trees. In addition, and as a fundraiser, parents and Old Boys will be invited to buy a tree for around
$10 and have their name registered on a Google map on the internet. “You’ll be able to donate to the cause, come and plant your own tree, and know that your actions are helping to rejuvenate the environment,” says David. All the trees being planted are grown from eco-sourced seed
at Travis Wetland. Potting and seed raising mix has been kindly donated by Canterbury Landscape Supplies. Irrigation acting as an insurance policy is provided to each planted tree, with tanks kindly donated by Tiki Wines of North Canterbury and Mainland Tanks & Drums providing the tank stands. Money raised from the sale of trees will be used to buy pots, wheelbarrows and other necessary tools and implements. In the future, College plans to supply nursery kits for other schools, with Haeata Community Campus and St Margaret’s College already interested. Another new project being led by the Environment Committee is focused on looking at energy management systems at College. “We’re trying to reduce the carbon footprint of our school, as well as to allow it to economise on sheer cost.” says David. Large use items such as the school pool and boarding Houses are being monitored, in an effort to reduce wastage by simple means such as draft minimisation of windows and doors by applying draft tapes, replacing incandescent light bulbs with LED, and putting timer switches on heaters. It is hoped the energy savings will be reinvested in other allied projects. “The intention is to have a five- year plan where College’s carbon footprint is quantified and then reduced. The whole idea is to communicate it to the boys and use those energy-saving contexts in classes. The intention is that everyone becomes a little more aware of the impact we’re having on the climate.” says David.
“ You’ll be able to donate to the cause, come and plant your own tree, and know that your actions are helping to rejuvenate the environment. ” David Newton
College Issue 36 2019
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