Alderman Elementary students install rain garden

Alderman Elementary third graders stepped outside the classroom Monday morning to learn about the environment. Volunteers from Wal-Mart and the PTA gave students a hand installing a 2,500 square foot rain garden. The garden was placed near the entrance of the school to catch and treat rain water from the schools roof and parking lot. Students learned what it takes to make a rain garden. Student Ciara Marbly said, "We have learned about soil, plants, and water.” "A rain garden is a best management practice that is installed to help treat storm water,” said Drew Harrison of the New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District. “Storm water carries a lot of different pollutants fertilizer, pesticide, runoff from cars and this rain garden is to treat storm water runoff here on this site.” Wal-Mart and New Hanover Soil and Water Conservation District helped fund the project.