Students at Tomaree Public School are stepping up to protect one of New South Wales' rarest plants through a hands-on environmental education project delivered by the NSW Government's Saving our Species program.
The initiative gives students practical skills at a formative time in their lives, helping them build strong environmental values that will last well after they leave the classroom.
The focus of the program is the Villous Mintbush, a fragrant, native shrub found in only three main areas in coastal New South Wales, including Tomaree National Park on Worimi Country. Fewer than 250 plants remain in the wild in the area, so local action is crucial to its ongoing survival.
Over four practical sessions, students learned about conserving the Villous Mintbush through habitat walks, plant specimen libraries, nature journaling and quiet observation exercises designed to build awareness of their local environment and its biodiversity.
The students visited a Villous Mintbush population in Tomaree National Park to learn how to collect plant cuttings, then potted them at a local nursery, Ngioka Nursery. Once the cuttings have grown large enough, they will be planted at a site in the school's grounds.
Back at school, students created that site to host the plants in the future. The students will become custodians of the threatened plant, which will involve monitoring plant health and reporting observations back to the Saving our Species team.
The program also supported learning across science, visual arts and literacy, while encouraging students to care for their local environment and threatened species.
By giving young people the chance to take part in real conservation work, the program is helping grow the next generation of environmental stewards.
Quotes attributable to Saving our Species program officer Katie Elsley:
"Villous Mintbush was chosen because it helped students connect with conservation in a tangible way.
"It's a really interesting and attractive plant to look at, touch and smell, which makes it a great species for hands-on learning."
Quotes attributable to Tomaree Public School teacher Annique Wilson:
"Students learned how to care for their local environment and protect species that need saving.
"Students were able to engage with the science, literacy and visual arts curriculum, outside of a classroom setting, to deliver real conservation outcomes".
