Community tree planting project at Lennox headland reaches restoration milestone

THE transformation of Lennox Headland from cleared farmland back into native rainforest has reached a major milestone, with a community planting day marking more than two decades of volunteer restoration work.

The 21st annual tree planting event brought together community members, schools and local groups to continue rebuilding the coastal headland.

What began in 2003 with 20 volunteers planting 140 seedlings has grown into a long-running environmental success, with more than 1,800 volunteers contributing more than 18,000 native plantings across eight hectares.

 

The project is a joint effort between Ballina Shire Council, Rous County Council and GeoLINK.

Ballina Shire Council natural resource officer James Brideson said the project had been driven by consistent community effort since its inception.

“We’ve been clearing weeds off what was once forest, and then it was cleared for farmland around 200 years ago,” he said.

“Each year, the local community come together to regenerate this precious coastal environment, helping to restore what was once present pre the 1800s.”

 

Restoring the headland supports threatened ecosystems and creates habitat for native wildlife.

While the upper headland is now largely fully planted, future events will focus on maintaining and enhancing the established rainforest as it continues to mature.

“People can really see the effort that they’ve done just by planting a tree, and the combined effect of lots of people doing that at the same time, over and over,” Brideson said.

“The combined effect is that we’re building a forest that will be here for generations to come.”