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Friday, November 24, 2006 |
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Nature Walk at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort
(HONG KONG, November 24, 2006) - As any visitor to Hong Kong Disneyland knows, the Park's appeal lies not only in its impressive attractions and cast of famous Disney faces, but also in the beauty of its environment - in the wide range of trees and flower species found both inside and outside the Park.
Several Hong Kong Disneyland VoluntEARS who have trained as eco-leaders recently joined their peers from Green Power to lead a group of primary students along the designated Nature Walk and helped them identify the many trees species found along the route.
The Nature Walk starts at the fountain outside the Park's entrance and then winds its way to the Disneyland Resort Pier along the Park Promenade, a wonderful place for guests to take a leisurely walk. More than ten species of trees along the trail are unique and special to the area. They include Rainbow Shower trees (they are also known as "mixed-blooded trees"), which are formed from two different tree species and have red, yellow, white or pink flowers. Also seen are Cycas revoluta, which even grew during the Jurassic period and must have been known to dinosaurs. These are trees known for their resilience and adaptability.
For many though, it was the Temple trees which proved to be the most popular. "Look, it smells so wonderful and looks beautiful, too" exclaimed one student. "Wow, the petal are white with a yellow throat - just like an egg!", said another. Temple Trees (Plumeria rubra) can be seen all across the Resort. The beautiful flowers are frequently used for medicinal purposes. "My mum said the flowers are good in herbal tea to cure a fever," announced one of the students.
"Trees are important components of the natural landscape because of their vital role in regulating surrounding micro-climates, purifying the air and enhancing the environment," explained one of Green Power's Eco leaders. "There are many trees planted over the resort and with so many species, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is an ideal place to explore the natural world. It's through this kind of interactive educational activity that students have the opportunity to see for themselves the biodiversity of the natural world and contribute to conserving our environment".
Students gained a great deal from the two-hour tour and they all had a great time. Said one happy student, "I thought that Hong Kong Disneyland was just about the attractions but the rich variety of tree species here was beyond my expectations. After the tour I know so much more about trees. Now I will pay more attention to the plants around me and cherish the beauty of nature."
The "Nature Walk at Hong Kong Disneyland Resort" program attracted around 800 primary and secondary school students who joined on four designated dates in November. Other activities organized included training for teachers and a guidebook launch ceremony. The guidebook is designed as a teaching aid for teachers to enable them to organize their own education program on the three tree trails along the Park Promenade and Inspiration Lake. In the future, skills in tree identification will be provided for 120 primary and secondary teachers in our train-the-trainer approach, allowing them to practice leading guided tours for their students.
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About Hong Kong Disneyland
Opened on September 12, 2005 and located on lush Lantau Island overlooking Penny's Bay, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort is a brand-new, world-class family entertainment and recreation center consisting of a magical, Disneyland-style theme park of shows and attractions, Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel (400 guestrooms), Disney's Hollywood Hotel (600 guestrooms) and Inspiration Lake, a public area featuring boat rentals and a 3.5 hectare arboretum. Offering guests of all ages a full day immersed in imagination and creativity uniquely Disney, Hong Kong Disneyland is home to Mickey Mouse, Snow White, Stitch, Donald Duck and other Disney characters beloved the world over.
About Disney's Outreach Programs
Disney is dedicated to making the wishes of families and children a reality through public service initiatives, community outreach and volunteerism in the areas of compassion, learning, the arts and the environment. For more information on Hong Kong Disneyland's outreach programs, please click here.
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