NEWS Of The Area was on hand for the opening of the great green wall of Bowraville on Tuesday 5 April.

Thanks to the innovative ideas of Bowraville Central School teacher Lynden Briggs and a Sustainable Schools Grant, the school now has a green wall garden, in place of an unsightly wall that used to bake in the hot afternoon sun.

“Before the garden wall it used to be a temptation for passing students to bounce balls off it, distracting those inside,” said Megan Cochrane, BCS Community Liaison Officer.

Water from an already situated drinking bubbler has now been diverted to the wall to keep the plants healthy and growing, plus saving water that used to just run down the drain.

The plants act as a cooling method for this room, hence reducing the need to run expensive air conditioning equipment, saving the school on electricity costs.

The wall has dual benefits as many of the plants are edible; making fresh herbs and bush tucker readily accessible to the nearby Food Technology room and canteen.

Native plants are among what has been planted, with students involved in the designing and measuring out of the wall garden.

More than 300 pots have been planted.

“This was a combined idea of both myself and Megan, we work well together in our thinking,” said Mr Briggs.

“We do things with passion, allowing our students to have a voice.”

“The project was halted by Covid, but is now complete and growing more lush every day,” said Megan.

To finish off the project, part of Bowraville Central School’s vision statement, ‘Together We Grow’, has been installed above the garden.

 

By Karen GRIBBIN