Grovetown Lagoon Restoration Project

Education and Activity Kit for schools

The Department of Conservation have created a schools’ education and activity kit based around Grovetown Lagoon. The  activity kit is designed to be used by schools doing the 'Living  Landscapes' topic with their students, and focus on the wetland environment.  Having this education and activity kit for Grovetown Lagoon will add diversity to the resources available, and help raise the profile of Grovetown Lagoon.  The activities focus on educating students about the history (natural and cultural) of the lagoon, and the transitions that occur within the wetland/lagoon area - from weeds to new plantings to stable forest or wetland vegetation.  Activities also include planting and planting maintenance according to the planting plans that are being put together for each area of the lagoon – each with a different purpose.

The theme for activities is Transitions. This theme has been chosen as many of the ecological processes occurring in the lagoon area are a transition of plant communities from one state to another. The theme includes the following subjects for the students:

• Succession – the transition from bare land to pioneer species to mature forest (the students plant trees as part of this theme). We see this clearly at Grovetown Lagoon. Primary species  (e.g. manuka, kanuka, red matipo, karamu, kohuhu and lemonwood, transition to secondary colonizers (e.g. mahoe, ribbonwood, lancewood and mapou) and then emergent species (rimu, totara, pukatea, matai and kahikatea).

• Competition – looking at competition between native plants and invasive plants, the effects of this and the outcomes of our intervention.

• Changes in land use – the history of the area including the formation of the oxbow loop that is now the Lagoon, traditional Maori use of the area, invasion of weeds and the degradation of the ecosystem, and the current restoration of the natural values of the area.

The Grovetown Lagoon Education Kit is designed to be used by primary and high school teachers and students, either with or without a representative from the Department of Conservation. Lots of background information is provided, and activities based on the themes for this kit are explained. Some activities are appropriate for all ages, others are more appropriate for a particular age group. Included in the kit is all the equipment needed to carry out all the activities. The Grovetown Lagoon Education Kit is available from the Department of Conservation, Renwick Office. Phone Caroline Cornelius on 572-9100 or 027 2112928.