Landcare branches out

A Moorabool landcare group had their hands dirty this month, planting new trees and shrubs at the Myrniong Recreation Reserve with the help of local students.
Members of the Pentland Hills Landcare Group (PHLG) took to the Recreation Reserve on Friday 5 August, joined by 40 Grade 5 and 6 students from Myrniong Primary, spending an hour and a half planting around 400 plants on the southeast side of the oval.
Colourful new signs were also erected regarding about local birds and the Pentland Hills Nature Corridor by supplier What Knots Picture framing, with PHLG members advising the best positions for the signs to go in.
PHLG member Alan Morton thanked the school and groups involved in the planting day.
“To ensure we continue to follow up on the great work done producing the YouTube videos on the Myrniong and Korkuperrimul Creeks Biolink project, that commenced back in 2010, we considered how we might keep the subject of flora and fauna in the public’s eye, so we submitted an application for a Moorabool Shire Council Community Grant,” Mr Morton said.
“This was based around doing signage and tree planting at the Myrniong Recreation Reserve and working with the local primary school. One of our members did a great job with a motor driven auger, digging holes ready for the pupils, while others put together cardboard tree guards and the bamboo stakes. We also had a local farmer/member with his vehicle and water trailer,” he said.
Mr Morton said the Friends of Werribee Gorge & Long Forest kindly loaned their planting kits that included a small hammer/pick and small garden trowel, plus plastic buckets for the children to water-in the plants.
The planting was done by 1 pm, with a range of native plants including scented groundsel, kangaroo grass, and sticky hop bush.