What biodiversity occurs in and around our schools?

Plants and animals enhance our living experience by providing green lungs, pleasing vistas, shade and landscaping, and variety in our environments, and even food and shelter. Our school gardens colour and shape our interaction with nature and one another, providing environments for shelter, privacy, games and relaxation. And merely appreciating forms, colours, contrasts and seasonal beauty.

How well does your school shape up? What plants grow in and around the grounds? What animals visit and feed, disperse, pollinate and live in the environs? Does your school focus on shade, fields, food or useful plants? Is it an oasis or an extension of the urban open space? Is it water-wise, bird- or insect-friendly, or utilitarian? Do you have a special section for biodiversity, or a wetland, or an insect hotel, or nest boxes, or bee hives?

This is your chance to document your school environs. The plants, animals and moulds that live in and visit your world. Dont ignore the lawns and weeds, or the bees and the birds.

Take part in the City Nature Challenge and in late April help map out our school biodiversity in the City of Cape Town. Join thousands of scholars in mapping our city's nature.