One teacher and his students spent 29 years turning a barren field into a 'thriving forest'—and it’s breathtaking.

In 1997, a New Zealand teacher started planting a windswept coastal paddock with Year 9 students. After 29 years, 12,425 plants turned the area into a native habitat. The project helped many birds and animals return to the coast. The final planting took place in November 2025, marking a successful end.