But last week, 29 Hunter Valley schools received Junior Landcare grants from Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).

The program invited Hunter Valley and regional NSW schools neighbouring the freight rail network to pitch their environmental ideas for funding.

ARTC recently announced they would provide a funding total of nearly $30,000 to deliver the projects and promote safe rail behaviours.

Students from Metford Public School, Hunter River Community School and East Maitland Public School were among the groups to receive grants.

Metford Public School pupils hope to see an increase in the range of local native fauna through the planting of a native food garden.

Their garden will provide opportunities for students, teachers and the community to learn about native edible plants and Indigenous foods.

Hunter River Community School currently has 10 raised garden beds and a chook pen.

They will be using their grant to rejuvenate all of the beds.

As the school is for students with complex needs, they are planning a sensory garden that will be stimulating for the children.

The successful schools are spread across the Hunter Valley and regional NSW including Narrabri in the north, to Narromine and Dubbo in the south.

A broad range of projects are being funded including veggie gardens, permaculture gardens, native gardens, worm farms, recycling projects and sensory gardens.

Landcare partnership manager Adin Lang said the grants encouraged young people to play an active role in ensuring the safe future of their environment.

ARTC’s group executive Hunter Valley Wayne Johnson said the program offered an opportunity to encourage safe behaviours of students and parents around the busy railway.

“We regularly have train drivers report trespass sightings of school students and we think initiatives like this provide an opportunity to open dialogue with schools and build respect for the railway,” he said.