The logs were rescued from a big, old blue gum being cut down in Fyshwick. The boulders came up during earthworks crafting the ground for the new suburb of Taylor. The plants and trees came from nurseries and donors all over Canberra.
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But the ideas behind Lyneham Primary School's forest classroom came from three students.
For Oscar Kendon, 11, Tiri Milne Moten, 12, and Beatrice Dash, 12, a day spent planting trees in what was once a neglected corner on their school's boundary marked the completion of a project they had overseen from idea to reality.
Though the trio of year 6 students is about to leave for high school, they hope the new outdoor space will be cared for and expanded by the groups of students which come through the school after them.
Future students at the school will have the chance to take classes among the trees, sit on stumps instead of at desks, and feel the rocks of a creek bed beneath their bare feet.
Inspired after attending last year's school climate rallies, Tiri, Oscar and Beatrice took the idea for the forest classroom to the then Climate Change Minister, Shane Rattenbury.
"Though it turned out after we'd presented the idea, that he was actually the wrong minister to ask. Because we were originally planning to do it over on the oval. He was like, 'I love the idea, but it's Minister Steel you're looking for'," Tiri said.
After the three presented their idea to the principal, the school got on board, too, and it came together with the school-wide planting day and supportive adults working in the background.
"I think we were quite surprised that no one had actually come up with the idea to do anything like this before," Tiri said.
"I'm surprised how many people really enjoyed the experience of planting day, like a bunch of people in my class said, 'It was so great'! And people I didn't expect to enjoy it as well."
At the heart of the project, is the students' effort to take local action against a changing climate. For Tiri, Oscar and Beatrice, that action is a no-brainer.
"Climate change, of course it's an issue," Beatrice said.
"I really care about the environment and everything, and the ecosystem here. And I have noticed less and less bees and native animals coming to our gardens and everything.
"I just wanted to make a little space to combat habitat loss and everything and attract native pollinators."
The space is now the new home of 380 native plants.
The school's science and sustainability teacher, Emma Harriden, who helped to drive the project within the school, said she ran lessons on biodiversity, species, habitats and soil health, but really the project came from the students.
"They're leaving a legacy behind, and it's not just about that. Everyone has been involved in the project, from moving rocks and placing them in the creek bed to planting trees and plants. I don't think there'd be one child in this [school] that hasn't been out here and used the space and participated in a project," Ms Harriden said.
Ms Harriden said the forest classroom would be used for maths, art, science and sustainability, among other cross-curriculum lessons when it was officially opened.
"Every time I bring my science classes into science, they're like, 'Are we working on the forest classroom today'? 'Unfortunately not, we're back in the classroom doing science'. They're just so passionate about it," she told the Sunday Canberra Times.
"They've been involved with it, so they've taken ownership of the space and that's what's important, I think."
Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
