An initiative by Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust to improve local environments and native habitats has just been launched.

The programme, Educate for Nature, is designed to connect children with the land via impactful hands-on activities.

“The participants will learn through experience and participation and will make meaningful contributions to improving their local environment and native habitats,” trust manager Loran Verpillot said.

“The programme is about facilitating a learning process for young people to gain important skills and be part of positive change.”

Loran said activities will be adapted for age groups and will include growing native plants from seeds or cuttings, planting native plants and looking after them, as well as learning to identify native plants and where to plant them.

“The programme will help to create new restoration projects in and around Wānaka, improving local biodiversity and restoring native habitats,” Loran said.

“Young people will then be able to apply the skills they gain to inspire, create and maintain restoration projects anywhere.”

Some local preschools have started in the programme which Loran hopes will expand to the primary schools and Mount Aspiring College.

“Once we have enough funding for this project, we will fully launch it,” she said.

Te Kākano Aotearoa Trust is a Wānaka community-based native plant nursery that specialises in propagating plants of local origin (Upper Clutha region) and uses these plants for localised native habitat restoration.

PHOTO: Supplied