Year 6 Environmental Leaders Bring New Native Garden to Life

This week marked a special milestone for Cranbrook Junior School, as our Year 6 Environmental Leaders took centre stage in bringing the new Music Cottage Native Garden to life. The once bare space has been transformed into a vibrant, ecologically rich area that will provide habitat for native birds and our own native bees, and a beautiful living classroom for years to come.

Under the guidance of our landscaping partners Green by Nature, Mathew O’Brien and Bowen Verge, and following the approved garden design by native garden specialist Narelle Happ (A Garden for Life), the students enthusiastically took part in every stage of the planting process. From positioning plants according to the landscape plan, to preparing soil and carefully settling each native species in place, our Year 6 leaders showed initiative, teamwork and a genuine passion for the environment.

The project was made possible through a $3,000 Woollahra Council Environmental Grant. We extend our sincere thanks to Michelle Rose, Environmental Education Officer at Woollahra Municipal Council, for her invaluable support in both the grant application and the earlier Native Garden Consultation. Special thanks also go to Dave Rose from Sydney Wildflower Nursery, who supplied an outstanding collection of healthy, high-quality native plants.

Behind the scenes, Dan O’Brien, from our Facilities team, coordinated the logistics, ensuring that everything ran smoothly on planting day. His work, together with the expertise of our landscaping partners, provided the perfect framework for our students to make a meaningful and lasting contribution to our School grounds.

The Music Cottage Native Garden now stands as our own narrative to what can be achieved when our community comes together: Woollahra Council, staff and students; to protect and enhance our environment. It will not only enrich our campus’s biodiversity but also inspire future students to value and care for the natural world.

Richard Baker
Deputy Head – Staffing and Operations