In 1997, a New Zealand teacher began planting a windswept coastal paddock with Year 9 students; 29 years later, 12,425 plants have turned it into native habitat

In 1997, a New Zealand teacher began planting a windswept coastal paddock with Year 9 students; 29 years later, 12,425 plants have turned it into native habitat

Retired teacher Janet Pottinger spent 29 years helping Buller High School students restore native vegetation at Tauranga Bay and Cape Foulwind in New Zealand. Since 1997, around 2,800 students have planted 12,425 native plants across 108 trips. The project has transformed former grassland into habitat supporting birds, seals, lizards and other native wildlife.