News

  • Shovels lying on the ground at a TRCA planting event

    Elmbank Students’ Project is Berry, Berry Good

    In News on

    The Elmbank Junior Middle Academy Children’s Garden was greatly enhanced with the support of our Schoolyard Biodiversity Grant.

    Elmbank students garden planting projectIn partnership with the PACT Urban Peace Program, “Grow to Learn”, the Elmbank Grade 6 students established an edible, native plant garden in the existing children’s’ outdoor classroom and garden.

    The project incorporated plantings of currant, gooseberry, blueberry, and raspberry bushes.

  • milkweed blooms in a butterfly garden

    A Butterfly Garden Blooms at St. John Vianney

    In News on

    Ever heard of a “MOEnarch Garden”?

    Grade 6 students from St. John Vianney Catholic School chose this creative name for their new schoolyard butterfly garden, after meeting Moe and his staff at the Albion Hills Field Centre during a three-day visit in April 2014.

    butterfly garden at St John Vianney Catholic SchoolStudents conducted research about monarchs, built the raised-bed garden shown here, and, after planting swamp milkweed and butterfly weed, took responsibility for watering, weeding and other maintenance.

    Congratulations to these Schoolyard Biodiversity Grant recipients for their work in supporting local pollinators!

  • Monarch butterfly on a purple coneflower

    Stewart Avenue Students Beautify Their Schoolyard

    In News on

    After their 2013-14 visit to Camp Ki-Wa-Y, students from Stewart Avenue Public School in Cambridge returned to their community inspired to make a difference by creating a butterfly garden.

    students from Stewart Avenue Public School plant a butterfly gardenThe class designed and implemented a plan which included planting 28 native species such as bee balm and purple coneflower, and mulching for weed control and moisture retention.

    The garden has served not only to increase biodiversity and attract pollinators, but has also beautified the entrance to the school, benefiting the entire school community.

    Congratulations to Stewart Avenue for their amazing work in increasing biodiversity!

  • onions growing in a sensory garden

    Parkdale Students Show Their Green Thumbs

    In News on

    After their 2013-14 visit to Lake St. George Field Centre, Grade 6 students from Parkdale Junior and Senior Public School returned to their community inspired to make a difference.

    Students from Parkdale Public School thank the Weston Family for their supportThe class used the Schoolyard Biodiversity Grant to create a sensory garden with strawberries, onions and various herbs. The garden is meant to be touched, smelled, tasted, and felt.

    The students also planted native wildflowers such as butterfly weed and milkweed to attract pollinators, and transplanted wild grasses along the kindergarten fence to help green the space and prevent litter from collecting.

  • Ladybug on a milkweed plant

    Serenity (Garden) Now for St. Lawrence Students

    In News on

    Enhancing and improving their Serenity Garden was truly a team effort for this St. Lawrence Catholic Elementary School in Hamilton.

    Students from St Lawrence Catholic Elementary School in their serenity gardenGrade 6 students and their teachers worked with the Garden Club to plan, plant and maintain a variety of native wildflowers and shrubs to increase biodiversity and attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

    Support for this greening project came from a number of partners, including the Royal Botanical Gardens, which offered advice on plant selection, and the City of Hamilton, which provided in-kind donations of materials, as well as numerous local families.

    Congratulations to the students at St. Lawrence for taking environmental action!