Students plant for future

STUDENTS from Healesville Primary School and Swinburne’s Land Management Diploma course joined forces with Healesville Environment Watch Incorporated (HEWI) and the Shire of Yarra Ranges for an Arbor Day plant-out along the Don Road creek last week.
The planting is a continuation of previous work done by HEWI and local groups along the waterway, which just a few years ago was an eyesore overgrown and choked with weeds. About 900 riparian plants were put in on the day, including some around a newly constructed dry creek bed and frog bog pond.
Swinburne student Andrew Robinson, a veteran at community plantings in Healesville, said he enjoyed working with a broad spectrum of the community.
“I think it’s particularly important to involve the kids,” he said. “It gives them an ongoing sense of ownership and they are more likely to appreciate and care for areas like this in the future.”
Mr Robinson was particularly happy to see the frog bog incorporated into the project.
“It’s definitely a step in the right direction,” he said.
“It will reduce the amount of run-off going into the creek and wins in a number of other environmental areas.”