Call for community to regrow region

MEMBERS of the Friends of the Bannockburn Bush are inviting the community to their annual tree planting day later this month.

Set for Sunday 30 July to coincide with National Tree Day, the group aims to plant 500 trees and 500,000 seeds from both the event and a similar initiative two days prior for Bannockburn P-12 College students.

Both planting days will take place at the former Bannockburn tip location, which Friends of Bannockburn Bush coordinator Stuart McCallum said needs reviving.

“Historically, it was the tip for the Bannockburn Shire in their previous incarnation,” he said. “That tip was capped, and it’s been a bit of a weed wasteland since.

“At the moment we’ve got some of our members brush-cutting and spot spraying and getting the area ready for the planting.

“Normally, we did this at a site on Harvey Road that used to be an old road-building soil dump. This will be our first planting day at the old tip.”

Manna gum, red gum, yellow gum, and wattles will be among the 15 to 20 species of trees planted on both days, as well as grasses and tree seed to accelerate regeneration at the site.

A barbecue lunch will be provided for the community day attendees and Mr McCallum said it’s always a worthwhile thing for the community to be a part of.

“The people that come enjoy it and it’s worthwhile going regardless of how many you have,” he said.

“I’m happy to have about 10 to 15 people. Any tree you plant in the ground is a success.”

The community day will start at 10am with attendees to arrive either at the southern end of Old Base Road or Masons Road and all materials will be provided for attendees.

To register, call Mr McCallum on 0438 904 961 or visit bit.ly/46tWi8h.