'Fruit Trees in Schools' Project ruit Trees in Schools

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Sustainable Whanganui 'Fruit 'Fruit Trees in Schools' Project History In June 2008 Sara Dickon and Donna Mummery of Sustainable Whanganui sought and obtained funding from Powerco for a three year 'Fruit Trees in Schools Project' for primary schools in Whanganui city and the region. The project parameters included: purchase and planting of fruit trees, provision of teaching modules in schools, and planned follow ups afterwards. Year 1 : 2009 In April 2009 Sara Dickon wrote inviting schools to take part in the programme. Hadi Gurton of Sustainable Whanganui Services and Melinda Hatherly and Murray Jones of TreeLife Nursery responded to the schools which replied to the invitation. Initial communication with school contacts clarified that the supply and planting of the 15 trees initially quoted for would be beyond most schools' needs. This primarily in terms of school-yard space, the schools' maintenance capabilities, and children's capacity. Supply was revised to seven (7) trees for 2009 . These were: 2 apple trees (Monty's Surprise and a Gravenstein), 1 plum, 1 apricot, and 3 citrus: Lemonade, Washington Navel Orange and Satsuma Mandarin. All trees were chosen for the sweetness and popularity of their fruits, fruiting times across the school year, as well as ease of care. Where no neighbouring pollinating trees were found for plum and apricot, we offered to graft pollinators: these to be supplied within the next two years. Delivery of Seminars In our initial covering letter and 'outline of sessions' to interested schools and preschools, we listed that we would offer information and resources in four areas: site analysis, resources, maintenance and diary of events. We also devised a simplified Lesson Plan, in which the children were asked to plan and then to plant fruit trees. In planning where to plant the trees we discussed and then asked children to look at and judge several factors: the amount of sun, wind protection, easy access to water, soil type and soil needs, and safety e.g. trees not in 'high traffic' areas or prone to vandalism, etc.

Of course we found that each school had differing needs, and were at different stages in their thinking, planning and development regarding a school orchard. When engaging with each school, we found that we were asked to make an initial visit to look at/scope out potential planting areas with the school contact (teacher/caretaker). Then, sometimes straightway, sometimes at a later visit, we shared our Lesson Plan with classes of 15-25 children, who then came outside to assist in the planting of the trees. Sessions averaged 1.5 hours, including pre-visit and/or scoping session. Outcomes • Delivered 'Orchard Planning, Planting and Fruit-tree Care' seminars to 18 schools and one School Caretaker/ Property Manager Network Meeting. • Planted 116 fruit trees in 18 schools in the Whanganui region. • Throughout the programme, worked with approximately 450-500 children, parents /carers, teachers and school caretakers. Year 2 : 2010 In September 2010, we began delivery of the second stage of the Sustainable Whanganui 'Fruit Trees in Schools' programme. This has involved an audit of the tree planting process for all schools and ongoing delivery of 'herbal ley' mulching for the fruit trees planted in the previous year. This stage of the process is a part of an ongoing establishment of strong, healthy (disease-free) and productive trees, delivering an abundance of delicious 'high health/high 'brix' level fruits long into the future.

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The herbal ley process involves: • laying a heavily-soaked newspaper 'carpet' (which smothers grass) • adding compost/organic fertilisers (particularly for citrus) • planting 'beneficial insect/ orchard mix' seeds to provide a growing mulch which maintains moisture around trees, attracts insects beneficial to fruiting trees and repel others harmful to trees' development', beats out grass (which is not compatible with the establishment of good fruiting trees), and finally - and of equal importance - to provide nutrients which assists in lifting 'brix' (sugar/glyconutrient) levels in fruiting trees placing 'bird scare' materials

Outcomes • Ongoing delivery of fruit tree auditing (e.g. monitoring tree growth, attrition and reasons therefor). • Ongoing delivery (in same visit) of second stage 'herbal ley/fertilisation/ growing mulch' work. Year 3 : 2011 The process continued for trees planted in schools during 2009, including pruning of all fruit trees, plus any replacement plantings required of fruit trees/and or herbal ley areas. Year 1 follow up process was delivered to all new schools. Followup letters were sent to all other other schools offering Year 1 of Sustainable Whanganui 'Fruit Trees in Schools' for the year 2012. 2012 Year 2 of the planting process to be delivered to trees planted in schools during 2011. Year 1 process delivered to any new schools. 2013 Year 3 pruning on fruit trees planted in schools 2011. Year 2 process for trees planted in schools during 2012. 2014 Year 3 pruning on fruit trees planted in schools 2012.

Melinda Hatherly SW Trustee Trustee