Help plant watch and grow

By Jessica Howard

Residents are invited to exercise their green thumbs by helping to plant 7000 new trees at Telford Park in Darley.
Moorabool Shire Council will this year be host to 12th annual Grow West Community Planting Day, to be held this Sunday July 16.
The day is one of Grow West’s biggest annual events and is an important opportunity to rejuvenate and restore local landscapes.
Telford Park is a 16-hectare park located next to the council offices in Darley. The park is named after its last private landowner, William Telford, who died in 1928.
During the mid-20th century, the historic park was used as a landfill site and while some revegetation has occurred, more is required to prevent erosion affecting local waterways and to help the site become a refuge for native fauna.
Port Phillip and Westernport CMA’s Environmental Projects Coordinator, Helena Lindorf said she was excited to be teaming up with the Moorabool Shire and the community.
“We’ve been working with the Council for many years now on their environmental reserves, so it’s very exciting to run our annual community planting day at a reserve where local residents will have a direct benefit once this area has been revegetated,” she said.
“With a bit of work from some dedicated volunteers, this park has the potential to be a significant community asset and improve the health of the local environment”.
The event has been funded through the Greening the West – 1 Million Tree program which is supported by the Australian Government’s 20 Million Trees Programme (part of the National Landcare Programme).
“We are so fortunate that we have many organisations and local groups that volunteer their time to help out with the annual event,” Ms Lindford said.
“This includes the Victorian National Park Association, Friends of Werribee Gorge and Long Forest Mallee, Bacchus Marsh Lions Club, Victorian Mobile Landcare Group and new addition this year, the Bacchus Marsh Scouts and Girl Guides.”
The Grow West Community Planting Day will be held from 9:30-4pm on July 16. Telford Park is located at 88 Wittick Street, Darley.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided. For more information and registrations, visit http://growwest.com.au/events/12th-annual-grow-west-community-plantingday/.