Nature will reclaim a paddock used for traditional farming practices, all for education.
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The Tamar Valley Steiner School successfully secured an $11,000 Landcare Grant that will allow them to rehabilitate a paddock adjoining the school to a native food and plant area.
Tamar Valley Steiner School principal Stephen Norris said the area was about half a hectare and would be rehabilitated to what it would have looked like before the previous owner cleared it for agriculture use.
"We have had a native plant expert come in to consult on what native plants would have been there before, but there are no native plants in the area at all right now," he said.
Pupils have helped to prepare the site for the native planting by sourcing, cutting and laying cardboard under the soil.
The cardboard will help kill off the grasses and other plants already there and help create a nutrient-rich environment to establish the native plants. Mr Norris said the native vegetation would allow native animals and insect life to flourish, which provided endless opportunities.
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"There's so many ways that this is beneficial for education," he said.
The Landcare funding was granted to the school in July last year, and preparations have already begun.
However, Mr Norris said he hoped to see significant growth in the next two to three years to allow the more giant trees to grow.
There are also some plans for the site, with a small stream that runs through part of it featuring prominently.
"We have plans in the future to establish wetlands near the stream, to help encourage frogs and insects to flourish in the habitat, " Mr Norris said.
In the meantime, about 80 species of plants will be planted on the site and nurtured by pupils' current cohort.
Mr Norris said the native habitat would have sections allocated to each grade group, who would be responsible for looking after it.
He said it would help educate students about what the land looked like before it was cleared for agricultural use.
But it would also give teaching opportunities regarding native plants, food and animal species who will call the habitat home.
Mr Norris said he wanted to thank Landcare for giving them the grant and the dedicated school community.
"We have had some dedicated parents who have given up time to help prepare the site, laying the cardboard and the mulch."
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