Through pest control, planting and education, they’re helping to protect this special place for future generations. 

The trust was recently highly commended in the Environmental Action in the Community category at Northland Regional Council’s Whakamānawa ā Taiao – Environmental Awards 2025.

“It was the students’ first time here, and they jumped right in.” Lil Craig, a trustee with the Bream Head Conservation Trust said.

Lil brings a deep background in education to her role. A former principal of Whangārei Heads School, she now chairs the Trust’s Education Committee and is passionate about connecting young people with the natural environment.

“I believe it’s vital that we help students appreciate the significance of the conservation areas here at Whangārei Heads,” she said.

“Growing this awareness ensures these places will continue to be valued by future generations."

The visit was part of a new education programme developed by the trust designed to give tamariki practical experience in conservation, from seed, to seedling, to forest.

On the day, students were supported by three of the Trust’s rangers and rotated through six activities.

These included collecting and sowing seeds, planting in the nursery, identifying weeds, learning about native birds, tracking pests using tunnels pest identification and tracking tunnels, and an introduction to trap line monitoring.

The pest control pest identification and tracking tunnel sessions were led by Zeralda Pirini, NRC Enviroschools Facilitator, who guided students through how tracking tunnels work and explained the impact of introduced species and how they ended up in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

“It was great to see the students so engaged and curious about how we track pests and protect native wildlife,” Zeralda said.

The visit supported the school’s term focus on kaitiakitanga (environmental guardianship) and was made possible by a connection through a teacher at the school, Fran Golding.

Rupert Newbold, the landowner who hosts the nursery, was also there to help. He’s restoring native vegetation on his property and regularly works with the Trust to plant seedlings and support education efforts.

The reserve is one of the best remaining examples of coastal forest in Aotearoa and is home to rare species like the North Island brown kiwi.

The trust’s work includes pest control, replanting, and cutting-edge conservation technology, all of which students get to see up close.

Bream Head is an ideal site for school visits. The nursery and education hub are located just minutes from Ocean Beach, with good parking and public facilities nearby.

“There is huge potential to collaborate with schools and tertiary education providers,” Lil said. “We want to build those relationships and create opportunities that benefit everyone.”