Sustainability

Bellbird Dell visit

On a fine and sunny Tuesday this week (12th September), our Planet savers and Sustainability Leaders were very excited to be involved in a special excursion to the Bellbird Dell in Vermont. We discovered some children had never been to the Dell when it’s just down the road from our school! 

Our group of approximately 55 children, teachers and parent helpers enjoyed a short walk from our school to the Barnesdale Drive entrance, where we met Anne, a volunteer from the Friends of the Dell committee.

The students were also introduced to Ian, an Environmental Education Officer from the Whitehorse Council.

The students broke into two groups. The Foundation to Year 2 students had lunch and enjoyed a play on the playground, while the Year 3 to 6 students had a talk with Ian and Anne, and then went on a nature walk throughout the Dell. Ian questioned the students knowledge of native animals and plants found in the Dell and showed examples of these, including some interesting fungi and bird species. The students were then on the lookout for examples of these during their walk. The Year 3 to 6 students returned to the playground for their lunch and the Foundation to Year 2 students headed further into the Dell on their walk and talk.

We’d like to thank Anne and Ian for their time and expertise and for this fantastic opportunity to learn about our local area.  Thank you also to our wonderful parent helpers who gave up their time to help out with our excursion.

Mrs Shoebridge and Mrs Jones

Sensory Garden Project

Over the past months we have been busily planning, researching and preparing for our new Sensory Garden project. The plants were purchased from Kuranga nursery in Mt Evelyn with a $500 voucher from a special garden grant our school received last year.

We have had many students involved in this project starting with our Sustainability leaders, Jai and Henry, together with the Grade 6 Planet Savers, helping to prepare the area by digging and turning over the soil.

Throughout the year we have Planet Savers from various grade levels, plus other interested gardeners, involved in digging holes, weeding, planting and watering our new plants. Their hard work and enthusiasm has been amazing as they learnt how to plant a variety of native grasses, shrubs and ground covers.  They have even learnt the important difference of a weed and a plant!

We have also had a team of ‘arty’ students, including our Grade 6 Art leaders, creating designs and messages for our recycled tyres which are part of our new garden. These will be painted next term to add some colour and interest to this area.

Our project will continue next term as we add more plants and other features such as garden art and our ‘Buddy Benches’ made from recycled plastic.

Thank you to our wonderful team of students involved so far this year. Please check out photos attached.

VPS Garden Club team:

Phil Alison, Zara Abrahams, Michelle Guye and Kath Jones

Sensory Garden team-photos 2023