by Shane Sody

The next generation of Park Lands lovers is being inspired at Adelaide University.

Over recent years, the Adelaide Park Lands Association has been connecting with Uni students, to introduce many of them to your Park Lands and inspire them to Explore and Protect.

We’ve been involved with:

• New student Guided Walks

• Sustainability Week Market stall; and

• Internships

NEW STUDENT GUIDED WALKS

In 2022, we've introduced new students to parts of the Adelaide Park Lands closest to the University campus. This year, special Guided Walks were arranged for new students, during orientation week in February, and again at the start of Semester two in August.

These orientation walks are likely to be held again, for new students in 2023.

SUSTAINABILITY WEEK

The Adelaide Park Lands Association was also invited onto campus in August 2022, to participate in Sustainability Week “Market Hall” offering info to students about our activities to Explore, Inspire, Protect and Restore, including our Guided Walk program and the Park Lands Art Prize.

We expect that at least some of the students we talked to on that day will be entering the young artist (under 25) category in the Adelaide Park Lands Art Prize competition (entries now open!)

However, the primary connection we have forged over recent years is with the Adelaide University's Arts Faculty internship program.

INTERNSHIPS

Since 2017, APA has been hosting one or two Uni students each semester; supervising each student to undertake a specific project, chosen in consultation with the student.

It's a win-win for each student, APA and your Park Lands. Students have undertaken research projects, or drafted some of the Trail Guides that we have published on our website. Others have produced videos highlighting a single Park, or the features across several Parks. See the list below.

Internships - examples of University student projects

• In 2019, student Marni Griffiths (Environmental Policy and Management) wrote a research report: The Lungs of the City are for Sale. Is this in Adelaide’s Best Interest? “Discuss the Severity of Adelaide Parkland Loss in Recent Years and Examine how this Impacts the Sustainable Development of the Parklands.” (PDF: 71 pages, 4.6 Mb)

• In 2020, student Saeema Shirin (Environmental Policy and Management) undertook a literature review of “Flora Biodiversity in the Adelaide Park Lands” (PDF: 18 pages, 0.5 Mb)

Also in 2020:

• student Simon Risdale (Bachelor of Media) produced a portion our video on Gladys Elphick Park / Narnungga (Park 25). His part of the video focussed on the Narnungga Urban Forest.

• student Jaden Lockery (Bachelor of Science) drafted our Trail Guide to The Olive Groves (Parks 7 and 8) (to be published early 2023)

• student Sophie Yelland (Bachelor of Creative Arts) contributed to our video on Palmer Gardens / Pangki Pangki (Park 28)

In 2021:

Student Michael Genrich (Bachelor of Media and Visual Design) produced this stunning video for us:

Michael has gone on to become a regular contributor to our blog and newsletter.

and Student Allycia Dobson (Bachelor of Media) produced this captivating video:

Tayla McKay (studying Bachelor of Media and Arts) drafted our Trail Guide to Bullrush Park / Warnpangga (Park 10) (to be published in November 2022).

In 2021, we also had an opportunity to work with a small group of students from Flinders University. Students from the Flinders University 'Community Voices Program' produced this 40-second video for us to promote our regular Guided Walks.

In 2022:

• student Katie Cooper (Bachelor of Environmental Policy and Management) drafted our Trail Guide to John E Brown Park and Mary Lee Park (Parks 27A and 27B) (to be published early 2023);

• student Leah Schamschurin (Bachelor of Environmental Policy and Management) drafted our Trail Guide to Possum Park / Pirltawardli (Park 1) (to be published before our Guided Walk in that Park on 11 September 2022); and

• student Nicola Grant (Environmental Policy and Management) is currently undertaking an internship working on a video about major event spaces within your Adelaide Park Lands.