For the last three years, Central Coast primary schools Holy Cross Catholic School at Kincumber, St John the Baptist Catholic School at Woy Woy, and St Patrick’s Catholic School at East Gosford have joined secondary schools St Joseph’s Catholic College and St Edward’s Catholic College both also at East Gosford in becoming advocates for the yellow-bellied glider.
As part of Project In-Situ, a Taronga community conservation program which has been running for ten years, students have planted more trees to increase the habitat of the glider, both at Kincumba Mountain Reserve and in their own backyards, and have demonstrably increased community awareness of the threatened species.
Holy Cross has started a native bush tucker garden on the school fringe which is a reflective space for students as well as habitat for many native animals.
This year Northern Beaches schools will be joining the program and learning about the feathertail glider, which lives in heath forests on the peninsula and which have had their habitats reduced by urban development. The students will monitor local wildlife with cameras and work closely with Northern Beaches Council fauna and bushland experts.
Through the Project, students use science, geography, literacy, indigenous perspectives and creative arts to learn more about threatened species and help conserve and build their natural habitats.
Photo credit: Paul Fahy