exciting new projects

Yesterday I met with Denise, and her assistant Zoe, from The Greening Project, to talk about planting trees and shrubs in Ellenbrook.  The Greening Project aims to connect local community volunteers with schools to grow tree seedlings and plant them at selected landcare sites.  (View The Greening Project website here.)

We went for a drive around the suburb looking at some local parks and bushland areas. We saw a lot of beautiful native trees, Carnaby's Cockatoo habitat, and public open space used by local residents for exercise and recreation.  Many of the bushland places are intact and healthy.  But there are some patches that definitely need some baby plants to fill in gaps in the understorey.   

Moulton Wetland Park needs some understorey shrubs

Imagine groups of schoolchildren learning about their local environment and getting their hands dirty with some wholesome outdoor activities, under the guidance of their teachers and trained field officers.  Seniors and anyone else in our neighbourhood could get involved in growing seedlings for appropriate landcare sites in our area.  These activities could have ongoing positive effects in our young people; instilling of a sense of stewardship, an understanding of natural processes, creating an interest in our local flora and fauna, meeting kind and responsible people and being put in contact with good role models.   

I am really looking forward to being involved in this kind of project!  I will post more details as they come to hand.

our planting day success

On Sunday the 12th June, some of us headed out to Aveley to help with some bush rehabilitation. Check it out if you're in the area - it's on the corner of Torres Parade and Argent Street.

Before we started, we were given a quick demonstration of how to plant the tubestock by David and Luke from Natural Area Management & Services. They supplied all the plants that we put into the ground. Luke also dug the holes for the plants, which made the planting really quick for us; it took only an hour or so for us to plant 300 plants. 

David shows how to remove a plant from its pot

The two little boys in our work crew did a great job running around and picking up rubbish from the site.  They helped Luke with watering the plants with water from a big tank on a truck.  I think it's good to see kids getting involved like this - it gives me hope for the future of the environment in the hands of the next generation.

gloves on, let's get to work!

We planted local trees, including Banksia attenuata, Corymbia calophylla and Melaleuca rhaphiophylla, and some local shrubs (such as Allocasuarina humilis, Beaufortia elegans and Regelia inops) as well as native sedges (such as Baumea articulata). The planted area is on the edge of a paperbark wetland, and these local species should blend in well with the existing trees and shrubs. When the trees and shrubs grow bigger, they should provide good habitat for birds such as Grey Fantails, Splendid Fairy-wrens, Yellow-rumped Thornbills and Brown Honeyeaters. These smaller birds depend on local plant species for shelter from predators and the elements, places to nest, and the insects and nectar the plants provide. 

We put some stakes and plastic around some of the smaller plants, to protect them from the wind and hungry rabbits. (Yes, unfortunately we have rabbits! They are one of Australia's infamous feral pests - read more about rabbits and the damage they do to bushland here.)

At the end of our planting, we posed for a photo, and had a sausage sizzle and some cool drinks to celebrate having put all the plants in the ground.

some of the less camera-shy work crew

The day was organised by Kellie from Brookfield Vale, who also did a great job supplying the food and drinks, and cooking up the sausages for us all. (Kellie took all these photos too!)  The sausages on rolls were delicious!

And since then, we've been having rain this week, so the timing couldn't be better for the plants to get their roots down into the sand and start growing. I want to thank everyone involved for making this planting day a pleasure and a success.  I hope we have another planting day soon.

Stay tuned, as I intend to go back periodically and take photos of “our” plants as they grow to maturity.

Community Planting Day in June

Brookfield Vale are organising a Community Planting Day on Sunday, 12th June, at  the
corner of Torres Parade and Argent Street in Aveley.  The day will start at 10:00am, and finish up around 12:30pm with a free sausage sizzle for all volunteers.


The aim is to revegetate a small patch of bare ground adjacent to bushland.  Revegetation helps to conserve existing biodiversity.  This is a good chance to learn more about local bushland and the plant species that grow there, as well as get some experience in hands-on bushland stewardship.  Feel free to ask lots of questions.  It's also a great opportunity to meet your neighbours!

we can make a difference

As we will be working outside in the sun, around scratchy bushland plants, please wear protective clothing and footwear - long pants, long-sleeved shirt and sturdy closed shoes or boots with long socks.  Gardening gloves, a hat and sunscreen might be useful too.  Please bring a bottle of drinking water for yourself. 

All planting equipment and plants will be provided.

To RSVP please call Kellie Bennett 9428 6079  
or email kellie.bennett at au dot brookfield dot com