Four children gathered around a volunteer painting instructor to share the intricacies of their drawings at the Baguang Silver Leaf Wetland in Dapeng New District during Sunday’s nature education course.

The public-benefit course, organized by Baguang Nature School, drew the participation of four families. During their exploration of the wetland, they were captivated by the ancient tree cluster that consists of the most well-preserved and oldest looking-glass mangroves.

A volunteer from Baguang Nature School guides children to identify Kandelia candel, a mangrove species indigenous to coastal areas in Southeast and South Asia, at Baguang Silver Leaf Mangrove Wetland in Dapeng New District during Sunday’s nature education course. Photos by Liu Xudong

Heritiera littoralis, commonly known as the looking-glass mangrove or tulip mangrove, is a mangrove tree in the family Malvaceae native to coastal areas of eastern Africa, Asia, Melanesia and northern Australia. The common name refers to the silvery appearance of the underside of the leaves, resembling a mirror to some degree.

Guided by volunteers, the children and parents identified various mangrove plants and animals, including narrow-leaved kandel (Kandelia candel), bear’s breeches (acanthus), and red-claw crabs, showcasing the wetland’s rich biodiversity.

The volunteer guide the children identify the looking-glass mangrove leaves.

“I drew a 500-year-old silver leaf tree. This is its root; it looks like a plank. I colored the leaves and trunks, and plan to finish the rest at home,” Peng Zhaohan, a 6-year-old participant, said. His father told Shenzhen Daily about his son’s passion for exploring natural spaces.

Another 6-year-old, Huang Xiyue, joined the event with her parents, seeking fun parent-child time. “We wanted to expose our daughter to nature,” Chen, Huang’s mother, said. “The event provided an opportunity for children to understand nature, with teachers using simple language during this wetland tour.”

Chen added that the experience could help cultivate children’s awareness of respecting nature and understanding concepts related to environmental protection.

“We organize these events two to four times each month, hoping to help children derive enjoyment from these activities, and in turn, enhance their environmental awareness,” Ou Wei, vice president of Baguang Nature School, said.

The event participants and volunteers pose for a group photo.