The Living Laboratory is Comcol North Canterbury’s two‑hectare outdoor learning space where rangatahi lead real projects in conservation, biodiversity restoration, sustainability, and food resilience. It’s a place to connect with the whenua, grow confidence, build friendships, develop practical skills, and make a meaningful environmental impact.

What rangatahi do here:
Across Comcol programmes — GROW, LEAP, FLIP, Youth Service, Hospitality, Equine, and Comcol Connect — rangatahi participate in:

• Native planting — restoring habitats and supporting taonga species
• Seed collection — eco‑sourced propagation for future planting
• Pollinator pathways — creating food sources and safe corridors for insects
• Lizard sanctuary habitat creation — designing and maintaining safe environments for native skinks and geckos
• Monarch butterfly habitats — planting swan plants and nectar gardens to support monarch regeneration
• Predator control — working with Pest Free Waimakariri to protect native species
• Edible gardens — seed sowing, growing, harvesting and using produce in our kitchen or to supply local food banks
• Soil health and composting — managing organic systems that support sustainable growing
• Chickens -- caring for our flock and collecting eggs for use in our kitchen or to supply local food banks
• Biodiversity monitoring — tracking species, habitats, and ecological change
• Nature‑based wellbeing — activities that strengthen mental health and connection to place

Why this matters
The Living Laboratory strengthens:

• Environmental outcomes — biodiversity, habitat restoration, soil health
• Youth development — confidence, identity, skills, pathways to education, training, and employment
• Community wellbeing — food resilience, environmental leadership
• Cultural connection — mātauranga Māori, taonga species, Te Rakiora history

The progress so far..... 2024 - 2025

2026

Thanks Darin for the drone footage of our planting bee. 

Comcol North Canterbury Living Laboratory... take a tour!

Visitors to Comcol North Canterbury often say things like ​"that's amazing, I didn't know this was here", so we created a short video in April 2026 to show you our world. 
Click on the video to take a tour!