A Nelson school has been inspired by Ruud “the Bugman” Kleinpaste to start a project using tree wētā to increase biodiversity and restore insect life in the outdoor environment and bush areas around the school.   

Kleinpaste and Shark Scientist Dr Riley Elliott visited Nelson Intermediate School as part of the TREEmendous Education Programme, an initiative from the Mazda Foundation, to talk to students and teachers about the importance of sustainability and how they can help to look after the environment.

Earlier, in February this year, Kleinpaste visited the school to identify pollinating insects by day and at night; light-trapping was the exciting tool used to attract nocturnal invertebrates.

Nelson Intermediate is one of five winning schools from around the country to each receive $1,000 to go towards an environmental project. The schools also receive 200 native trees from Trees That Count, for their school grounds.

Nelson Intermediate School will use the grant to develop a pollinator garden to assist our native pollinating insects and a tree wētā project which involves placing the insects strategically into wilderness areas around the school. 

Science Technology Engineering Arts and Maths (STEAM) Leader, Sarah Johns, says the visit was a transformative experience for students that expanded their thinking.

“We are grateful for the entertaining and thought-provoking experience that Dr Kleinpaste and Dr Elliott brought to our school. Their visit has left a lasting impact on our students, encouraging them to explore and appreciate the wonders of the natural world.”

Kleinpaste also worked with Nelson Intermediate on highlighting the artistic aspect of Science in Nature.

“The students were so enthusiastic about their environment,” he says, “it’s incredible to see many students dreaming of ways in which pollinators could be portrayed as the heroes of our food plants”.

Kleinpaste and Elliott will visit the remaining winning schools over the next few months to share their environmental knowledge and talk to students about their individual projects.

Applications are open for Primary and Intermediate Schools to apply for their own TREEmendous Education Programme for 2024.