The Green Page:

This week I share a very special email I received recently from Elise Wood, Secretary of the Friend of Lake Pano project. 

We have responded and will connect in the New Year to work together on the project.

Whaea Nicole and her Bush School boys will coordinate with Elise early next year.

Hi Ash,

During Halloween, I met one of your teachers out trick or treating and I mentioned I was planning on emailing the office to chat about this project. 

I'm an ecologist living on Sturges Road with my year 6 and year 7 boys, and I've started a community group to enhance Lake Panorama - create educational signage, planting, pest control, etc. and empower the community to connect.

I'd love to involve the local schools, I am deeply passionate about citizen science, encouraging children (girls in particular) into STEAM subjects, and science education/communication in general. 

I saw you have a teacher taking bush class; I am thinking maybe I connect with her and on one of the bush days - we could arrange a planting day or similar. That would be during planting season, so next winter, but before that, if it fits with your curriculum, I'm planning on clean-ups, weeding, building/repairs etc.

I'm presenting the group and the project to the local community board at their meeting next month prior to applying for local board funding. With my day jobs and other volunteering projects, I've already worked alongside some from Council and one of our scout leaders (Oratia Air) is getting involved with some of the technical things.

Here is a webpage   https://lakepano.carrd.co/   I've put together explaining the group and plans. If you have any ideas on how you might like to involve the school, I'd love to hear them. I intend later on to apply with Ecomatters to create a community composting facility - another great learning opportunity!

I'm currently waiting for a Give a Little page I've started to be moderated and accepted, so we can fundraise to pay the application fee for doing anything (planting, weeding, signage, etc.) on Council property.

Here's the Facebook page for the Lake Pano Group  I'd love for you to share it in your circles if you'd like to.