2009 Trees For 2009 Trees For Survival Planting Survival Planting TripTrip Mataia FarmMataia Farm

KaiparaKaipara

PreparationPreparation

The trip does not happen without a lot of preparation The trip does not happen without a lot of preparation before time.before time.

A day has to be selected and approved by Sue A day has to be selected and approved by Sue Crawshay of the ARC.Crawshay of the ARC.

This has to be agreed upon by the landowners.This has to be agreed upon by the landowners. Arrangements have to be made with our sponsors, Arrangements have to be made with our sponsors,

Downtown Rotary re booking a bus.Downtown Rotary re booking a bus. The landowners, Gill and Kevin Adshead had to come The landowners, Gill and Kevin Adshead had to come

down, meet us and take the 800 trees back to Mataia.down, meet us and take the 800 trees back to Mataia. The trees, previously readied and “toughened” up had The trees, previously readied and “toughened” up had

to be taken by the class out to the gate at the end of to be taken by the class out to the gate at the end of the field. We had help from school staff with this.the field. We had help from school staff with this.

Preparation Preparation

The DayThe Day

We gathered the last cabbage trees to go up We gathered the last cabbage trees to go up on the bus and then, together with parents and on the bus and then, together with parents and John, our school groundsman, we left, a bit late John, our school groundsman, we left, a bit late because the bus was held up by rush hour because the bus was held up by rush hour traffic getting to school.traffic getting to school.

The trip was to take a little over an hour. We The trip was to take a little over an hour. We were lucky our bus driver knew the route were lucky our bus driver knew the route because he’d taken another class to a farm not because he’d taken another class to a farm not far from our one.far from our one.

Our bus rideOur bus ride

We travelled through green countryside We travelled through green countryside once we were off the motorway at once we were off the motorway at Silverdale. Children saw a great variety Silverdale. Children saw a great variety of animals including alpacas. There were of animals including alpacas. There were some unusual black faced sheep and we some unusual black faced sheep and we passed deer being farmed too.passed deer being farmed too.

One of our class comes from Korea and One of our class comes from Korea and was fascinated by all the trees!!was fascinated by all the trees!!

ArrivalArrival

As we tumbled off the bus, eager to stretch our As we tumbled off the bus, eager to stretch our legs, we were greeted by Gill. We were glad to legs, we were greeted by Gill. We were glad to be able to have a snack and a drink after we’d be able to have a snack and a drink after we’d put our gumboots on and unloaded the bus.put our gumboots on and unloaded the bus.

Nicky, our enviro teacher, was there along with Nicky, our enviro teacher, was there along with three Rotarians who’d come to be “human” three Rotarians who’d come to be “human” diggers.diggers.

There were a number of hard working adults to There were a number of hard working adults to help, and Jack the dog was back, as pleased help, and Jack the dog was back, as pleased to see us as he had been last year. The boys to see us as he had been last year. The boys loved shaking his paw.loved shaking his paw.

Departure and arrivalDeparture and arrival

Planting out!Planting out!

A great walk through the yard, smells A great walk through the yard, smells and all, across a paddock, over a stile, and all, across a paddock, over a stile, and wow, at last we were there! Look out and wow, at last we were there! Look out ground, we’re here to dig you over!ground, we’re here to dig you over!

In places the ground was easy to dig, In places the ground was easy to dig, unfortunately that wasn’t all the time. It unfortunately that wasn’t all the time. It was good to have so many willing and was good to have so many willing and hardworking adults to urge us on.hardworking adults to urge us on.

Eight hundred, hopefully, trees later it was Eight hundred, hopefully, trees later it was time to call it a day and return to the shed time to call it a day and return to the shed for what had inspired the children for what had inspired the children throughout the experience so far, the throughout the experience so far, the promise of the yummiest lunch ever.promise of the yummiest lunch ever.

Naturally it lived up to its reputation, Naturally it lived up to its reputation, thanks to Gill. thanks to Gill.

Planting outPlanting out

The return The return

We were all tired out on the bus back to We were all tired out on the bus back to school, some even tried to sleep!school, some even tried to sleep!

A lot still found the strength to chatter! A lot still found the strength to chatter! The next task has been to “prick out” next The next task has been to “prick out” next

year’s trees which arrived as punnets of year’s trees which arrived as punnets of seedlings. seedlings.

We also have to”pot on” from root trainers to We also have to”pot on” from root trainers to milk cartons to free up large root trainers for milk cartons to free up large root trainers for the many young flax seedlings!!the many young flax seedlings!!

Pricking Out SeedlingsPricking Out Seedlings