Surf Coast students dig in for National Tree Day

STUDENTS at Surf Coast Secondary College were among thousands who got their hands dirty last week and on the weekend as part of National Tree Day and Schools Tree Day.

The planting at Surf Coast Secondary College on Friday was organised by a group of 12 girls from Year 9, who oversaw groups of year 7 and year 8 students plant trees along the school’s border with Banyul-Warri Fields.

Year 9 student Charlotte Gorman said the project was part of their deep learning task for the term.

“Some people chose to do vertical gardens, but this was a way to impact our world as a whole.

“We thought as our school uses so much paper, we should help it in a way by having more trees.

“We saw this patch with heaps of trees and then it stops, so we’re making it more homely.

“We’ve all put in 100 per cent to get to this day, and we’re pretty proud of it.”

Nearly 150 native trees and shrubs were planted on the day, supplied by Geelong Indigenous Nursery, Bunnings and Beach Tree Nursery.

The National Tree Day campaign has spanned 22 years and lead to the planting of more than 24 million trees, and Planet Ark is asking Australians to band together to plant a million more this year.

Existing research and feedback show participants feel healthier, happier and more connected to their communities by helping plant in and maintain their local green spaces.

Their newest research, via Pollinate, found 62 per cent of Australians wish they had at least 30 minutes more time in nature per day, and only a third realised they could enhance their time outdoors by using smartphone apps such as plant identifiers and nature trail maps.

For more information on National Tree Day and Schools Tree Day, head to treeday.planetark.org.