the children of Thornton Public School.

Staff, parents and students at the school have planted 300 Lower Hunter spotted gum – ironbark forest trees to create an outdoor learning space.

The brainchild of Karen Brown and Caterina Poggi, the project also aims to protect and rehabilitate the sensitive bushland areas while creating environmental awareness.

“Our school has 9.2ha of Lower Hunter spotted gum – ironbark forest, which is unique within public school grounds,” Ms Poggi said.

The Lower Hunter spotted gum – ironbark forest community is restricted to the Central and Lower Hunter Valley around Cessnock and Beresfield.

“The tree used to be really widespread but its distribution now is about 10 per cent of what it was prior to European settlement, and it’s been split into lots of little fragments, which makes it even more vulnerable,” Ms Poggi said.

“Before we started on the project, most of the students, staff and parents were unaware of the unique flora they live in and work around every day. Rubbish was being dumped here, plants were being trampled and teachers were missing out on the opportunity to incorporate this asset into their lessons.”

As part of the project, a timber stage has been erected and can seat 30 students at a time.

“Now this area is something we can all be really proud of,” Ms Poggi said.

“And because the students particularly have worked so hard on it they understand why it’s so important to look after our trees and our environment.”