MAD rush to plant

Ethan gets stuck into planting. 169864 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

Bangholme students put more than 300 plants into their school grounds in a bid to make a difference.
More than 600 students from Prep to Year 12 at Cornish College participated in the mass planting during Make a Difference (MAD) Week.
The plants will encourage biodiversity and attract further bird and wildlife to the 100-acre classroom.
Cornish College bought the plants following a successful bid for a $1000 Momentum Energy Junior Landcare Grant.
Cornish College grounds manager Tom Humphreys and parent David Jupp co-ordinated the three-day planting, from Monday 26 to Wednesday 28 June.
Sessions started with Mr Jupp providing a presentation about the types of animals the new habitat would attract.
Students then watched a short demonstration of the correct way to plant a tube sock before digging, planting, installing a tree guard and watering their plants.
“This is a great start to building an understory below the established gums behind our oval, and will increase biodiversity and attract a broader range of bird life,” Mr Humphreys said.
Principal Vicki Steer said the project directly involved students in improving their campus and understanding the difference they could make to their environment.
“It is great to see older and younger students working together in multi-age groups and further cementing friendships that span year groups,” she said.
Cornish College reinvents its timetable during MAD Week as students, staff and parents work together on projects that make a difference at the school and for the wider community.
Other activities during this year’s MAD Week include collecting socks for the homeless, singing at local nursing homes, and a book swap for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.