Thinking
In 2007 the Mazda Foundation partnered with Project Crimson to
bring the Treemendous Makeovers to primary and intermediate schools
throughout New Zealand. Each year four schools are chosen to have
an outdoor area within their ground transformed, complete with
native plants and other landscaping.
What was done
The four schools selected in 2009 were chosen from 158
nationwide applications to have their grounds enhanced with native
tree gardens. These schools were Glenavon School (West Auckland),
Papatoetoe North School (South Auckland), Malfroy School (Rotorua)
and Hedgehope Primary School (Invercargill).
DBPR was responsible for injecting excitement and enthusiasm
into the makeovers and publicising the events to the local
communities. Members of the DBPR team also travelled around the
country to the various makeovers to dig in with the rest of the
school communities.
The result
With the makeovers now in their third year, Mazda Foundation
chairman Andrew Clearwater feels the response to the competition
has been outstanding with creative applications in many forms, from
children's heartfelt letters and pictures, to photographs and
intricate landscaping drawings.
The judge's selection process hasn't been easy, but it has been
encouraging to see the enthusiasm of the school communities towards
more trees and the creation of a green area for their children.
Part of the Foundation's role is to support environmental
initiatives and the Treemendous School Makeover is a very tangible
way of doing this.
We feel heartened by the commitment schools around New Zealand
are making to the environment and look forward to fostering this
commitment through the Treemendous programme, said Clearwater.
www.projectcrimson.org.nz
www.mazdafoundation.org.nz