Bellarine Landcare Nursery turns 21

LANDCARE enthusiasts on the Bellarine have celebrated 21 years of helping to protect the peninsula’s natural environment.

Present and former volunteers from the Bellarine Landcare Group’s nursery gathered at Marcus Hill Memorial Hall to mark the occasion.

“Over the 21 years we have produced over one million plants to help restore our unique Bellarine Peninsula,” Bellarine Landcare committee member Kate Lockhart said.

“Over 200 species of indigenous plants have been propagated and distributed all over the Bellarine Peninsula.

“From its beginnings in 2002, our Bellarine community nursery has been a unique partnership between the Bellarine Landcare group and the Bellarine Secondary College. This partnership has been instrumental in the nursery’s longevity and success.”

She said the support of Bellarine Secondary College principals, teachers and administration staff, with nursery volunteers and the Landcare committee, had underpinned the nursery’s achievements.

“The nursery produces more than 50,000 plants a year through the hard work of our nursery manager, Fiona Love, and our talented volunteers.

“This special place has evolved into a positive, productive hub that welcomes and supports around 35 volunteers every week, making a tremendous contribution to the health of our community and the local environment.”

Ms Lockhart said hundreds of people had been involved with the nursery since 2002, so it was fitting nearly a hundred people attended the 21st celebration at Marcus Hill Memorial Hall, which was supported by community volunteers and the group’s donors.

“Current Landcare president, Bernie Malone, spoke eloquently congratulating all involved in its foundation in particular the persistence of Landcare stalwart David Lean and the first nursery co-ordinator Michael Connell, who attended with his wife Moya and daughters.

“Fiona Love paid tribute to the hundreds of volunteers who have engaged in a huge variety of jobs to enable the nursery to produce beautiful local native plants.”

The nursery is open on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am until 3pm and on the last Sunday each month from 10am-1pm (except January and December), and is always closed on public holidays, in extreme weather, and on Total Fire Ban days.

For more information on Bellarine Landcare, head to facebook.com/bellarinelandcare