Children's Conservation Project

New Zealand is becoming more and more conservation-conscious as the country becomes more industrialised. But conservation, particularly as it applies to forestry in Nelson, is nothing new. Since 1954, Waimea and Nelson city children have planted more than 200 acres of pine trees in their own Coronation Forest on Spooner's Range. This year, about 1300 children planted another 10 to 15 acres of forest and pruned trees planted by other children years before.

Children returning to base for lunch after planting part of the area at the left of the picture.

On the job

Children receive last minute instructions before undertaking some knife pruning.

Since the project was first initiated in 1954, more than 15,000 children have helped to plant and prune the trees. The Coronation forest was set aside in 1953 as a children's forest, in the year of Queen Elizabeth's Coronation. The next year, about 712 children in the area planted 15 acres of Douglas firs.

Secretary-organiser of the forest committee, and a keen conservator, Mr J. A. Cross.

Hand pruning of some of the lower branches.

Suzanne Law (Richmond) is sawpruning.

Doing their bit: Joanna Tetteroo and Julie Anne Ryder, both of Richmond School.

Having lunch at the entrance to the "Conservation Trail" are Jeanette Randell, Vicki Lines, Joanne Eggers and Cathy O'Brien, all of Clifton Terrace School.

"Oooh, this is a toughie"

Joanne Beloe, of Henley Street, discovers that pruning is not as easy as it looks

Trees are planted and the willing workers move on into the next bay

Learning about conservation on the "trail" are Foxhill School children, Susan Robinson, Shirley Lines and Alan Clarke

Taking a break

A new gang moves into the planting area. The work is so organised that children plant and prune on the one day.

Supervising operations are the Forest Services' woodsmen, John Try, Peter Evans, Robin Parr, Ken Simpson, Ted Griffith, Ross and Kevin Fenemor and Robert Porter-house.

Critical observers.

Foxhill School boys and girls on the "Conservation Trail".

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The Nelson Photo News

No 119 : September 19, 1970

Children's Conservation Project