<- Homepage: Backyard Biodiversity field trip
Backyard biodiversity
Join the Bugman, Ruud Kleinpaste in Kirikiriroa Hamilton to see how much biodiversity he can find in a patch of grass in an urban area.
- What did Ruud find in his sweep net?
- What biodiversity can you find in your own backyard or school yard?
- What do you think would increase biodiversity in urban areas?
Backyard restoration
Explore a gully in a backyard in Kirikiriroa Hamilton and see how people have worked together to restore this area.
- What is the first step in restoring biodiversity to an area?
- What are pioneer plants, and can you find examples of native pioneer plants that would grow well in your local area?
Ecosystem services
Look closely at some examples of biodiversity in the Hamilton Botanic Gardens. Find out more about the important jobs that bugs do and the benefits we get from them.
- What are ecosystem services?
- What do you think are the most important ecosystem services and how do they benefit you?
Wonderful wetlands
Find out more about the importance of this wetland and its significance to Māori at Toreparu wetland on private land near Raglan
- Describe a wetland and why it is important.
- Find a wetland in your local area and see what is living there.
Restoring wetlands
Discover how Toreparu wetland will be restored to enhance its health and bring biodiversity back to the area.
- What can you do to help restore a wetland?
- Join or create a group to help restore a local wetland or awa.
Forest functions and features
Take a walk through a pocket of regenerating forest at Pakoka Scenic Reserve. Discover how a forest functions, why they are important to people and how to identify different species.
- Find out more about rongoa Māori.
- Investigate a forest or public garden near you and see how many different species you can identify.
Healthy ngahere healthy people
Follow the Bugman through a patch of forest to hunt for food. Find out who eats who and how this forest ecosystem stays in balance.
- How can forests help people?
- What is your favourite forest plant or animal and why?
Protecting and restoring kahikatea country
Discover a remnant kahikatea forest near Waharoa on the Hauraki Plains and what lives in this type of forest. See how the local community is working together to restore this forest and provide a healthy ecosystem for rare species, such as pekapeka long-tailed bats.
- Find out more about kahikatea and where they grow.
- What types of native forest grow in your area and what similarities and differences do these forest types have compared to kahikatea forest?
The most important word on the planet
Visit a tree in a forest with the Bugman and see what is living there. Find out more about the life-history of this tree and its role in the carbon cycle.
- According to the Bugman, what is the most important word on the planet?
- Do you agree with the Bugman – why or why not?
You could also use this video question template Word (31k) | PDF (217k) | Google doc to think more about each video (based on SOLO Taxonomy).
