The Cromwell Primary School's grounds are about to receive a ''treemendous'' $10,000 makeover.
More than 300 native trees and bushes will be planted at the school on Saturday as an amphitheatre-style outdoor classroom is created, along with a kowhai grove and the first stage of a new gateway area.
The school is one of four throughout the country chosen for the makeover and the only South Island one selected.
Treemendous School Makeover is a Project Crimson and Mazda Foundation initiative.
The foundation was established to help a wide cross-section of causes and Project Crimson is a charitable conservation trust.
Cromwell School teacher Claire Lincoln said the $10,000 worth of landscaping work and trees was exciting for the school and the wider school community.
''This was the fourth time we'd applied for a makeover under this scheme, so you can imagine the excitement when we were chosen,'' she said.
The project would take place on part of the junior school playground, which would be reshaped and remodelled.
Gabion baskets will be used to set up an amphitheatre under a big, old willow tree on the site and an outdoor stage has also been constructed.
The willow will provide the ''ceiling and walls'' for the outdoor classroom.
''We've also been seeking other sources of funding as well and Fulton Hogan has donated an extra $5000 worth of labour and materials, our SOK group [Supporting Our Kids] has donated $1500 for irrigation and the board has funded the stage area,'' Ms Lincoln said.
''It's been a huge response. The co-operation from everyone who's been approached has been amazing, there's been lots of open doors and great generosity.''
The school community is asked to ''muck in'' by attending the working bee between 9am and noon on Saturday.
Entomologist Ruud Kleinpaste, known as ''the Bug Man'', will be at the school that morning, and will tell pupils about the bugs found in the garden.
The official opening of the upgraded area will be held at a later date.
