TWO primary schools and two preschools in the Hawkesbury are recipients of Junior Landcare Grants to help pupils undertake projects related to sustainable production.
The grants - sponsored by Woolworths supermarkets - are designed to get kids interested in the environment, by inspiring them with hands-on projects focussing on sustainable food production, improving waste management practices and enhancing native habitats.
Kurmond Public School (pictured) will use its $1,000 grant to enhance the habitat at the school with a project called Coo-ee Calling, which focuses on encouraging native birdlife to reside within the school grounds.
Pupils are performing waste audits, research projects and bird life counts to collect data, analyse their findings and plan for changes.
Richmond Preschool Kindergarten will receive $996.32 to undertake a sustainable food production project with its own Bush Tucker Garden, made up of plants that are familiar to the area as well as traditionally linked to the indigenous culture, which the children can care for.
They will also be including a 'yarning circle' to encourage and support children in sharing information with each other and learning from each other.
Fitkidz Vineyard will get $820 to enhance its habitat with an improved vegetable garden and worm farm, and promoting sustainable practices. They will add a nesting box and native stingless bees, as well as native plants to promote pollination.
Wilberforce Public School will use its $766 grant money to improve waste management practices through the development of a garden club focussing on recycling and composting.
They will increase the number of compost bins and worm farms to handle the student's food waste from recess and lunch.
The program, organised in conjunction with Landcare Australia, is being funded with proceeds from Woolworths' 'Bag for good' 99-cent reusable calico shopping bags.
Half a million dollars has been given to schools nationally for this round of the program. The four Hawkesbury institutions were among 500 schools chosen from 1,200 applications, Woolworths said.
Woolworths Group Manager, Carmelo Bruno said; "We're so proud and excited to see the funds raised from our 'Bag for good' going directly into our local community through the Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants program."
The community can keep up-to-date with the schools' progress with their projects, as well as send encouraging messages and feedback at landcareaustralia.org.au/woolworthsgrants/maps.