By Mrs Annie Gomez for BIS Mumbai

Don Bosco Senior Secondary School, Nerul, took a significant step towards environmental education and biodiversity conservation with the inauguration of a Butterfly Garden on Wednesday, December 17.

 The Butterfly Garden was formally inaugurated by Fr Ashley Miranda, Provincial of the Mumbai Province, in the presence of the school management, staff, and students. The initiative reflects the school’s commitment to nurturing curiosity, environmental awareness, and a love for nature among young learners.

 To ensure the effective maintenance and sustainability of the garden, a core Eco Club team comprising students from Classes V to VIII was formed. Students will ensure regular watering, manuring, and vigilant maintenance of the Butterfly Garden to support plant growth and sustain biodiversity, thereby promoting observation skills and experiential learning.

 This meaningful green initiative was made possible through the generous support of the iNature Watch Foundation, which offered a free Butterfly Garden setup to the school campus.

The school expresses its heartfelt gratitude to Mrs Kalyani Chaudhuri, Principal, for her encouragement and vision in promoting eco-friendly initiatives. Sincere appreciation is also extended to Mrs Shubha Lakshmi, Director of the iNature Watch Foundation, for gifting 300 saplings, including butterfly host, feed, and nectar plants, enabling butterflies to thrive naturally within the school campus.

 This Eco Club initiative aims to create a vibrant green learning space where students can:

•  Observe butterflies in their natural habitat

• Explore biodiversity and ecosystems

• Learn to care for and protect nature

• Experience joyful, hands-on environmental learning.

 Sharing his enthusiasm, Ved Liam, a student member of the Eco Club, remarked, “I love gardening and am eagerly waiting to see butterflies flutter across our campus.” His words reflect the excitement and sense of ownership students feel towards this green initiative.

 The Butterfly Garden serves as a living laboratory, fostering environmental responsibility and inspiring students to become active stewards of nature.