THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was a refreshing green experience for over 40 students who participated in a tree walk organised by Gandhi Bhavan here. The children who are members of the vacation camp organised by Gandhi Bhavan took the canopy walk at Government Music College campus here on Thursday morning.
The children, aged between 7 and 15, were led by nature lovers who explained to them the name and
species of the huge trees on the campus.
Organisers said the initiative was in response to the disappearing greenery and also to spread awareness among school kids the importance of environment, the diversity of trees and the steps needed to conserve them.
Gayathri B, a student of Cotton Hill Girls High School, said it was for the first time in her life that she got a chance to know the name of so many trees. “This is the first time I am walking around seeing and observing the trees and nature. I could learn a lot,” she said.
According to Anitha S, a core member of “Tree Walk” organisation and a coordinator of Thursday’s programme, trees on the music college campus have ecological and medical importance.
“There are a wide variety of green lung trees which release huge amount of oxygen into the air. Elanji, which is also known as the Indian bullet tree, is less seen in the city.
A 200-year-old tree in the college is a rarity. Temperature under its canopy would be 2 or 3 degree less than the outside temperature,” she said.
“The number of trees in the city is declining due to rapid development. There is an urgent need to bring in more greenery to the cityscape. Sensitisation of the public is important and it is good that children are being included in it,” Anitha said.
According to ecologist Veena M programmes like the tree walk will help to bring children closer to nature. “The new generation’s lack of knowledge and indifference towards nature often scares me,” says Veena M. Arya Ajay student of Vishwa Bharathi said the camp provided her with a chance to see trees which she had come across only in textbooks.
“The camp has motivated me to plant more trees and preserve the nature,” says Gouri Sunil, a student at St Mary’s. According to Anitha, Tree Walk has organised around 60 to 70 walks. It has successfully motivated people of all generation to preserve and protect the nature. The core team consists of ecologists and common people.