In 2004 a small group of Salisbury School students had a vision to recreate some native bush on a vacant area of the Salisbury School grounds. They wanted to put back what had been there in years gone by and this would also become part of a bird corridor leading through to the Richmond ranges. Part of their vision was that eventually the bush would provide a habitat for birds, insects and lizards.

They hoped it would also provide a place of learning for all local schools.

The Department of Conservation, local Iwi, Tasman District Council, students, staff and numerous volunteers have all been involved over the years in various aspects of the area.

We have an eco-hut in the bush, a camping area and now a lizard garden. The area is being extended as we can afford it with a lot of natural regeneration happening and year round access is provided by a long boardwalk.

In 2013 we were fortunate to get the financial assistance of Kids Restore New Zealand to the value of $10,000 to create a snapshot of lizard habitat going from the coast to the lowland forest. This is an extension to the native area. Georgina Pahl of Mainly Natives Nursery has been invaluable with her planning and planting guidance for this entire project from 2006.

Our lizard garden includes an area of forgotten backyard where lizards like to hide, basking rocks, and rock tumbles, gabion baskets with seats, hollow concrete blocks for them to hide in and lots of lizard friendly bushes including some quite rare ones.  They were planted by the girls, staff, Board of Trustees and members of the community during a working bee day last year and have already grown significantly. We are proud that we can continue the vision of the small group of six students and hope it will become the educational resource that they envisaged.