Napoleons pupils plant on Tree Day

LAST Friday 25 July, twenty-eight Napoleons Primary School students were by the Yarrowee River at Scotchmans Lead, just down from the Franklin Bridge, to participate in a Schools’ National Tree Day planting bee.

The event led by members of Napoleons-Enfield Landcare Group saw about 200 native plants put in the ground to create a meadow.

These plants came from Ballarat’s community nursery at the Botanical Gardens, and were purchased through sponsorship by Simplicity Funerals, Central Highlands Water, GJ Gardner Homes, and the Ballarat Wildlife Park via 15 Trees.

“We have discovered native grass, so we’re going to maintain a grassland in amongst the plantings, and the students have planted a meadow around the edge of the native grass,” said Napoleons-Enfield Landcare Group member Jenny Ryle.

Napoleons Primary School took part in Napoleons-Enfield Landcare Group’s third planting of the season.

“It’s important for them to understand that we don’t just plant trees, we plant a whole range of plants that work together.

“Some of the plants the students have planted today include milky beauty heads, golden everlasting, and dianellas.”

A total of 2000 natives will be planted to revegetate the site beside the Yarrowee throughout the season, funded by the same sponsors.

Simplicity Funerals location manager David Franzo said the business plants one native through 15 Trees for every funeral they run in order to offset their emissions.

Ballarat Wildlife Park’s volunteer coordinator Darcy Strange said they plant a tree through 15 Trees per Koala Encounter they sell at the park.

Students contributed to the creation of a meadow which is next to patches of native grasses.

This is fitting, as a koala has recently been spotted enjoying the landscape along the Yarrowee at Scotchmans Lead.

“It’s a badge of honour to have a koala here,” Ms Ryle said.

GJ Gardner Homes has been in partnership with 15 trees since 2010, and public relations officer Lisa Dark said they have funded more-than 100,000 trees to be planted in the last 15 years.

“We donate 15 trees for every slab that we pour, and some years we can pour 50 or 60-plus,” she said.

The initiative is part of the Urban Ripple Project.