Students Help Develop a Native Edibles Education Trail at Scotts Creek

Established through a bequest from the late Neil Smart, the Neil Smart Environmental Education grants were introduced in 2022 to support staff and students to undertake projects, programs and activities in the area of environmental education. Among the inaugural recipients were Sean Meredith and Daniel Cibich from Scotts Creek Outdoor Centre.

"Building upon existing sustainable practices at the Scotts Creek Outdoor Centre, in 2021 the team established a garden of Riverland native edibles. The purpose was to create a space that would expand and enrich the environmental education of students and, in the longer term, provide food and ingredients for use in the camp kitchen.

Thanks to the Neil Smart Environmental Education Fund, in 2022, we were able to further develop the vision for the garden, expanding the number of plants and creating a self-led education trail. The funding enabled the purchase ofplants, creation of plant protection, fertiliser and signage to allow for easy identification. Over 40 new plants were added to the garden, expanding it to include non-edible natives, supporting the local ecosystem. In 2023 we hope to be harvesting herbs, berries and fruits for use in the camp kitchen.

The trail was designed with assistance of local Ranger Tim Field, from Banrock Station, who collects native seeds and propagates plants. The garden covers around 200m2 and has a pathway winding through to minimise foot traffic on the plants and soil around them. A plant fact sheet has been created to provide information about the variety of plants along the trail, allowing for self-guided education for students and visitors alike.

Our 2022 Year 7 students played a key role in the development of the trail, building plant guards and planting seedlings to give the plants the best possible start. In doing so, they contributed to the learning opportunity of future students whilst growing their own knowledge about indigenous use of native plants and the local ecosystem."

If you would like to help expand the range of environmental education opportunities available to our boys, now and in the future, please contact Helen Karapandzic, Director of Philanthropy on (08) 8334 1220.