Some South Surrey elementary school students celebrated Earth Week with some hands-on help on Tuesday (April 23) in White Rock.
The Lower Mainland Green Team (LMGT) engaged the help of 100 local elementary school students in a hands-on habitat restoration at Ruth Johnson Park, in a partnership with the City of White Rock and city parks staff.
“The students had such a fun time during this activity, some of them didn’t want to leave,” program co-ordintaor Andrea Robles noted in a release.
The Grade 5 and 6 students, who travelled to the park from H.T. Thrift Elementary School just down the road, learned to care for nature and helped remove invasive species, with 52 students helping remove English ivy and English holly, while 48 more students focused on clearing away ivy in a second, afternoon session.
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“Both groups of students were energetic and jumped right into the activity, eager to get their hands dirty with their classmates while enjoying the fresh spring air,” Robles said in the release.
The total of 112 helpers also included teachers, parents and returning LMGT volunteers.
Altogether, the students and volunteers removed an impressive 26 cubic metres of invasive English ivy and English holly, equivalent to the volume of 162 bathtubs, she said.
“We had a great time helping to free the trees of ivy and seeing who could pull the longest vines. It was wonderful witnessing the power of teamwork as our experienced LMGT community members helped students remove small holly trees.”
More environmental activities are planned by the LMGT, including a Saturday, May 4 restoration event at West Beach. Interested parties can join the waitlist online.
Another activity is planned again at Ruth Johnson Park on Saturday May 25 from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.; interested parties can sign up online.