Friday, 24th May 2019, was the day schoolchildren were going to march demanding action rather than words on climate change. We decided to support them. Cambridge children, however, decided to join with their Hamilton friends, so the Tree trust was left to put on its own show. This we did, thinking we would be lucky to give away 100 trees. We gave away 232, and had a constant stream of people browsing the offerings on our truck. We even got some cash donations.

2019

This exercise was carried out by one of the International Baccalaureate students, who got a great deal of co-operation from the school staff. The result was 13 students, 11 and 12 years old, who enthusiastically cleared weeds from the lakeside vegetation. The steep bank was no impediment to them. There is plenty left for them if they wish to return. We would welcome them.

2018

This year, we couldn't get a team from the Baccalaureate students, but we did get a very large and enthusiastic group from Year 7, i.e 11- and 12- year-olds. Their scampering up and down the steep bank was a sight to behold. St. Peter's School had a Community Service day, and the group that helped us was joined later by the rest of the Year 7 group, whose work had finished earlier, so that we ended up with about 100 pupils working very well indeed.

Each year the local Cub group visits us to do some community work. Because they come in the evening, we can't give them any planting to do so they pot on some of the nursery plants that need to be re-potted. They're a boisterous group, and good fun.

Here are a few historical photos. Unfortunately, they're undated, but were probably taken in the mid-1990s. They show Neville Kerr with some students from St. Peters School, and with some exchange students from Germany. Locations are around Cambridge generally, but the exchange students are photographed near Pirongia.

And here are some St. Peter's children helping Blackie Mayo build a weir.

Cambridge High School has a plant nursery and eventually its plants needed a home. There is a huge number of plants required to replace the old gum trees which had to be removed before one fell  over and killed someone. A dog and a car had already fallen victim to falling trees.

A strong contingent of 15-year-old (more or less) students planted about 180 plants in a bit less than an hour and a half, on both sides of the Camelia Walk on the top of the bank beside Lake Te Ko Utu. Here they are, having a great time.

Read more: Cambridge High School at the lake.

Last Sunday, 26th June, a group of St.Peters International Baccalaureate students were planting beside the Camelia Walk above Lake Te Ko Utu. A father and his 2 daughters, aged perhaps 6 and 4, came along, walking their dog. The girls saw the St. Peters students planting, and immediately cried out to be allowed to help. Here are the students, with their helpers.

Read more: St.Peters gets some help