Students planting pays off | National Tree Day

Three local schools have helped improve our natural environment over the past few weeks, planting over 1500 seedlings as part of National Tree Day activities.

Students from Capel Primary School, Busselton Senior High School, and Georgiana Molloy Anglican School enthusiastically put their buckets and shovels to work, transforming open spaces into urban forests.

GeoCatch said their efforts had not only contributed to local biodiversity, but also inspired a deeper appreciation for nature among the students.

Year 11 and 12 students from Busselton Senior High School braved challenging conditions between storm fronts to plant 400 trees at Holgate Rd foreshore in Busselton.

The planting helped to infill an area that had 1000 trees planted at a recent community planting.

The newly planted trees will help to reconnect fragmented habitat that is home to the critically endangered Western Ringtail Possum.

Teacher Louise Mutch and the students applied a thick layer of mulch and fitted biodegradable tree guards to protect the seedlings from wind, pests and the summer sun.

The trees were supplied by Busselton Toyota, and thanks to funding from Busselton Water, the seedlings will be watered to get them through the first summer and ensure they establish strong, deep root systems in the sandy soil of the Busselton foreshore.

Meanwhile, over 100 Capel Primary School students from Years 2 and 3 put their gloves on and dived into the dirt to plant 500 trees in a previously bare spot on their school grounds.

The planting was designed to restore habitat for the Western Ringtail Possum, as well as provide homes for other birds and native wildlife who share the school grounds.

The Georgiana Molloy Anglican School Green Team planted over 700 trees at the historic St Mary’s Anglican Church in Busselton and at the school grounds, spending two days completing the planting project.

The work at St Mary’s was well-received by the local community, with the historic church sitting proudly as an entry statement to the centre of Busselton.

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

GMAS Green Team student spokesperson Harper said the group was excited at the prospect of being involved in a community project that had immediate environmental benefits.

“Planting these native trees gives our native animals somewhere to live and sleep at night,” Harper said.

“It will also help to keep us cooler in summer and I think it looks great.”

Nicole Lincoln from GeoCatch said without the help of the students, there is “no way” she could have planted 1500 seedlings alone.

“This year’s planting days had a strong community focus, with the school groups stepping up to look after their public open space,” Nicole said.

“It is great to see the students taking ownership and pride in regenerating their surrounding environment for the critically endangered Western Ringtail Possum and other local species.”

Project leaders thanked local business Busselton Toyota for their ongoing support of GeoCatch’s tree planting activities, and also the Planet Ark Seedling Bank for making the planting days a reality.

This project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government’s State Natural Resource Management Program, while the City of Busselton’s ‘You Choose’ program funded the St Mary’s garden renewal efforts.