Adopt a Park program helped by Haileybury’s Newland Early Education Centre

Approximately 60 pre-prep children from Haileybury’s Newland Early Education Centre (ELC) recently took part in a Greater Dandenong Council initiative designed to encourage kindergarten and community groups to help children to explore their local park, understand its importance and enjoy the health benefits.

The children worked with a council horticulturalist on Thursday 10 August at Tatterson Park, Keysborough, fostering stronger connections with nature as part of the ‘Adopt a Park’ program.

“I liked planting the trees because you put the plant inside the little holes and they will grow with water and sunlight,” ELC student Bella Yu told local news source Star Journal. 

“Caring for the environment is good for the animals. Today I planted trees for the habitat for magpies, possums and snakes,” fellow student Jack Zayed added. 

Haileybury Director Lisa Christopher said visits to the park will continue over the next few months for children to observe and care for the progress of the trees they planted.

“The ELC children, teachers and parents thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Council horticulturalists and environmental officers,” she told the paper. “They learnt about the importance of creating habitats and their role in nurturing local ecosystems. They also learned about different native animals who live in the neighbouring bush and wetlands.”

To read the original coverage of this story, please see here.