Schools play a part in tree day

EIGHT Ballarat schools participated in Schools Tree Day last week, putting thousands of plants in the ground, distributed to them by the Alfredton Rotary Club.

Students of St James’ Parish School in Sebastopol, Wendouree Primary School and Pleasant Street Primary School were among the youngsters who braved icy temperatures on Friday to take part in a range of hands-on activities highlighting their commitment to biodiversity and sustainability.

Those schools participated as part of their ResourceSmart Schools biodiversity module, one of five Sustainability Victoria-sponsored modules designed to engage young students in hands-on environmental learning.

The Rotary club used a grant to supply about 2700 plants, and the City of Ballarat donated tree guards and stakes for the new plantings.

St James’ students spent the day connecting with the earth through water testing at the Yarrowee River, tree planting and other nature-based activities, planting more than 100 trees along waterway near Magpie.

The event was part of their ongoing stewardship of the Yarrowee corridor, aligning with the school’s ResourceSmart Schools biodiversity focus on enhancing local ecosystems and fostering student leadership and action.

Wendouree Primary School students played a major role in the day, with 800 native plants going in.

That project supported the school’s goal of creating a welcoming habitat for diverse species and reflected its proactive approach to increasing biodiversity on school property.

At Pleasant Street Primary School, the student Green Team – led by sustainability coordinator Travis Poyner – planted native species around the school grounds as an extension of their classroom learning and group sustainability initiatives.

The plantings also reinforced the biodiversity module’s emphasis on integrating biodiversity into the curriculum.

“Working together as a school to create a beautiful space now will become a gift for future students,” said Sustainability Victoria Grampians region ResourceSmart Schools facilitator Inga Hamilton.

“Through the ResourceSmart Schools biodiversity module, students learn to value and protect the natural world, contributing to healthier school environments and stronger community connections.”

Schools can monitor their progress through a biodiversity audit, which can be repeated each year to track the positive impact their work has on school grounds.