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Geraldine Primary School students to develop sensory garden

Geraldine Primary School students win $500 to develop sensory garden

Geraldine Primary School has won a national school garden competition run by Soil, Food & Society - the not-for-profit organisation behind a popular year 5 - 8 science-teaching resource, which draws on the story of ‘where food comes from’.

Scooping a prize of $500 worth of garden centre vouchers, Geraldine Primary School says it will use the funds to purchase plants, trees and decorative accessories for its new sensory garden.

Teacher, Erin Barclay, says the school was excited to win the competition.

“We already have an edible school garden which the students really enjoy, and we have recently built a sensory garden to complement this. The prize money will allow us to fill this new space with colourful flowers, fragrant plants and aromatic herbs.

“Our students have said they want to be able to touch, feel and taste what’s growing in this sensory area. Our Green Team (which includes students in all year levels) is doing the planning and will be looking to buy hardy plants like lavender as well as robust herbs such as basil, thyme and rosemary. They also hope to add into the garden some fruit trees and a small sculpture or some shiny pebbles, maybe even a water feature.”

Ms Barclay says being able to take students outside to get their hands in the soil, plant vegetables and then pick the produce adds a new dimension to their learning, since it provides them with something to look after and reap the rewards from.

She adds, “It is also a great way to teach science and environmental concepts as well as encourage discussion around how food grows and is produced in New Zealand.”

The $500 garden centre gift card was presented to the school by Sandi Ainsworth, Garden Department Zone Leader at Mitre 10, Ashburton

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