Working Bee #81 took us to Pakuranga Intermediate School on Thursday 18 June, where volunteers, staff and students came together to breathe new life into an existing outdoor learning space. With support from Foundation North and the Auckland Council Howick Local Board, the day focused on revitalising an area that will continue to support hands-on learning, wellbeing and connection with nature for years to come.
The transformation included installing a new Morrifield tunnel house, refreshing the growing spaces with Birdies raised garden beds and Daltons Black Magic growing mix, and carrying out a significant clean-up of the surrounding area. Years of accumulated green waste were cleared, giving the outdoor classroom a fresh start and creating a space the whole school community can once again enjoy and take pride in.
As always, it was the students who made the day special. They jumped into every task with enthusiasm, whether it was shifting materials, helping with the planting areas or working alongside the volunteers. Watching everyone work together was a great reminder that these projects are about far more than gardens. They build confidence, strengthen connections and create a shared sense of ownership that lasts long after the working bee is over.
By the end of the day, Pakuranga Intermediate had a refreshed outdoor classroom ready for its next chapter. A huge thank you to Foundation North, the Auckland Council Howick Local Board, our supply partners, volunteers and the entire Pakuranga Intermediate School community for making Working Bee #81 such a rewarding day.
