Branching out

Talk about branching out! Our arboriculture ākonga enjoyed a bird’s eye view as they honed their skills earlier this week.

Working on an elm tree in the Balclutha Bridge Playground, 16 of our ākonga, led by programme co-ordinator Ben Fentiman, learned on-the-job pruning and shaping skills.

The characteristic mushroom-shaped elms are ideal for learning the specific skill set required for ornamental trees, Ben says.

“They would grow much taller if they weren’t regularly pruned and shaped. They’re perfect for our students to practise and refine their skills."