GMAS students lend green thumbs to garden project

The Georgiana Molloy Anglican School Green Team turned out en masse to give the historic St Mary’s Anglican Church in Busselton a grand garden makeover last week.

Students provided much-needed labour and enthusiasm to finish what has been a 6-month revitalisation program, starting funding from the City of Busselton’s You Choose’ funding program.

The program asks members of the community to vote online for projects, with the new garden chosen alongside GeoCatch’s FireWise Demonstration Garden along with seven other initiatives.

Max Cussons, Chairman of St Mary’s Precinct Committee, said St Mary’s had the opportunity to enhance the verge after several adjacent dead peppermint trees were removed.

“This project was successfully implemented with the knowledge and expertise given by Lisa Massey from GeoCatch and Graeme Sly from Total Horticultural Services,” he said.

The design of the garden renovation was led by the team at GeoCatch’s Bay OK program, utilising the key design principles of Bay OK Gardening.

“Before we started on this site, the gutless, sandy soil was boosted with composted organic matter and clay,” GeoCatch’s Lisa Massey said.

“Every hole for every plant also received a well-matured compost/clay mix to ensure they have the best possible chance of survival.”

The garden was designed to be waterwise and low maintenance, with drip irrigation installed before planting and a thick layer of coarse, chunky mulch applied after planting.

“The irrigation will get the plants through the first few summers, then they should be able to survive without any irrigation at all.

“The mulch will help to keep soil moisture in, and also keep the weeds down” Lisa said.

“This is very important as we wanted a low-maintenance garden that can be easily maintained by the Church volunteers.”

Graeme Sly from Total Horticultural Services said his team had been involved in many projects with GeoCatch and GMAS. “These community-based efforts are great,” he said.

Students Harper and Rio were excited to be involved in a community project with immediate benefits.

“Planting these native trees gives our native animals somewhere to live and sleep at night. It will also help to keep us cooler in summer and I think it looks great,” Harper said.

Rio emphasised the importance of planting native plants to help restore nature corridors.

“Our Western Ringtail Possums are critically endangered at the moment. Planting these native plants and trees helps them to have a home and a safe place to sleep,” Rio said.