Yarra Ranges Council is teaming up with local schools and community groups as part of this year’s revegetation program, which aims to plant over 37,000 native plants across the municipality.
On 25 July, Students from Woori Yallock Primary School teamed up with Councils Bushlands team and participated in planting 900 plants along the Warburton Rail Trail.
Yarra Ranges Council Mayor, Jim Child emphasized that the program is vital for improving the conservation of important sites and supporting native plants and animals.
“Revegetation offers multiple benefits, such as improving biodiversity, creating habitats, managing stormwater, filtering water, sequestering carbon, and preventing erosion. Working with local indigenous nurseries and schools further benefits the community,” Cr Child said.
Students from various schools including St Patricks Primary in Lilydale, Healesville Primary and Wesburn Primary are also joining with Council to participate in future planting events.
Speaking at the planting day on 25 July, Woori Yallock Primary School Grade 5/6 Teacher, Lisa Syme, said the students really enjoyed working on such a positive project that contributes to their community and neighbourhood.
“It’s great that they are able to do something that benefits their local community over the long term. So many of them live in this community and in 10 years’ time they’ll be able to walk down here and see the difference they made,” Lisa said.
Mayor Jim Child highlighted the collaborative effort between Council staff, schools, and community groups.
“It’s great to involve local schoolchildren and show them how to plants trees and help teach them the importance of regeneration projects, but it’s also an opportunity for them to make a lasting contribution, one that they can visit year after year to watch the trees grow,” Cr Child said.
“Sometimes we’ll have an entire school actively involved in enhancing the biodiversity of their nearby Bushland so it’s pretty special and reflects the commitment these schools make to connecting their students to the natural environment, which is a part of what makes our area so unique.”
Residents can still get their hands dirty at one of three National Tree Planting days. The council is supporting National Tree Day this year by hosting free planting days at Everard Park, Healesville, on Sunday, 30 July, Birdsland Reserve, Belgrave Heights, on Sunday, 6 August, and Wandin Yallock Creek, Seville, on Sunday, 13 August.
Yarra Ranges Council Mayor, Jim Child encouraged residents to take part and said every hand that helps plant a tree contributes to the richness of our unique local environment.
“National Tree Day is always a great opportunity not only to look after our local environment, but to get involved in the community and work together for a great cause,” he said.
“I encourage everyone who loves the environment, loves gardening, or just loves meeting people and having some fun, to get involved in this wonderful event.”
