Nurturing the land this Tree Day

ROSS Creek Landcare Group will acknowledge National Tree Day later in the month, hosting a tree planting working bee at the local reserve.

In partnership with Woady Yaloak Primary School’s Ross Creek campus, 700 native trees, shrubs and grasses will be planted in the wetlands adjacent to the oval by students and Landcare members, to re-establish the area’s original natural environment.

Ross Creek Landcare Group president, Liz Charleson said weeds have been sprayed ahead of time, ready for the children to dig in small COVID safe groups, utilising tree-planter tools.

“We’ll work with local plant species. A lot will be wetland plants, native grasses like rushes and sedges, and trees suitable for wet areas,” she said.

“Swamp, snow, and manna gums, and stringybarks will grow well here. For the drier areas around the edge of the wetland, we’ll have species more suited to not having their feet wet all the time.”

Since gorse has been removed throughout the reserve, orchids and wildflowers have grown, “as if they were waiting.”

Mrs Charleson said it’s important to strengthen the native plant population in the wetland area for the local fauna’s prosperity.

“There’s frogs, tiny creatures and ground dwelling animals, and many birds. The birds have really come back to this area. We do have koalas in this area, and once this is established, they may come back in.

“Local people can come and see the local species, and identify them if they have them on their own property. They can even revegetate their own properties to enjoy the transformation, with the insects, butterflies, birds and frogs that turn up,” she said.

When children are involved in campaigns like this, Mrs Charleson said care and curiosity flourishes for the environment and native species.

“It’s very important that the younger kids start to include this as part of their general education. Hopefully afterwards they’ll have an attachment to the plants, and the things they plant themselves.

“Landcare groups have a lot of older people, so it’s really good to get children, and parents, involved in some way or another,” she said.

Ross Creek Landcare Group was established to look after the local environment, including roadside areas which can be corridors for wildlife.

“The reserve has been our main focus for many years. Recently, we’ve connected more with the Reserve Group which has the responsibility for the hall and oval, and reaches out to the local community more.

“They’ve been very proactive in organising things combined with us,” Mrs Charleson said.

Contact 0418 819 300 if you’re interested to help with the tree planting and have a Working with Children’s Check. The working bee’s date will be confirmed later in the month as weather and up-to-date COVID-19 restrictions are assessed.

Call the same number to get involved with the Ross Creek Landcare Group. Visit facebook.com/Ross-Creek-Landcare-Group-1667914366859449 for further information.