Many hands make Lake Avenue Reserve greener

LAKE Avenue Reserve in Ocean Grove will be somewhat greener later this month.

National Tree Day on Sunday July 28 is a planting day that has already seen more than 150 locals contribute, well before the plants go in the ground.

Margot Busch from Ocean Grove Coastcare said the idea started with the recent ‘blank canvas’ project, initiated by local resident John Bowman, where artists volunteered their time and talent to create canvases depicting trees.

Ms Busch said these were then displayed and auctioned at Driftwood Cafe in Ocean Grove at an event in May organised by the Bellarine Greens.

She said money raised from sales enabled the purchase of several hundred trees, shrubs and grasses for both Lake Avenue Reserve, and for a separate planting event on the Bellarine Rail Trail.

“The development of Ocean Grove over recent decades has seen the loss of homes and food for local birds, lizards and insects, and this planting project will return some of the natural habitat for them, adding to the fringe of trees already in the Reserve,” Ms Busch said.

“The City of Greater Geelong will contribute additional funding, and co-host the morning with Ocean Grove Coastcare, providing tools, mulch, and a bbq at the end of the event.”

Everyone is welcome to join in the planting day which will run from 10am until noon, followed by the bbq.

Meet at the corner of Lake Ave and Blue Waters Drive by 10am to sign in and wear closed shoes, gloves, warm clothing and bring a drink bottle.

More information can be found on the National Tree Day website, treeday.planetark.org/find-a-site or email [email protected].