Community digs deep for National Tree Day

Thousands of newly planted shrubs and ground covers have transformed Ellen Close reserve in Warragul thanks to dedicated community participation in Baw Baw Shire Council's National Tree Day event.

Local school kids, families and community members were amongst the hard-working crowd who got their gloves dirty planting along Hazel Creek.

The ground covers included grasses, rushes and sedges and once fully developed they will help improve the creek habitat for native animals at the reserve including the Giant Gippsland Earthworm and Warragul Burrowing Crayfish that has historical recordings of potential habitat.

Councillor Farhat Firdous was amongst the eager group involved on the day. "I was so pleased to see so many of our residents putting on their gloves and getting involved with this planting event"

"The event provided an amazing opportunity to nurture our natural environment as well as create a sense of community, especially for our younger residents and nothing was going to stop even the littlest of residents who outnumbered all of us with all the trees they planted" she adds.

The group celebrated their hard work with a BBQ and colouring competition.

Council's National Tree Day forms part of wider National Tree Day celebrations across the country. Established in 1996 by Planet Ark and held on the last Sunday in July each year, National Tree Day is a call to action for all Australians to get their hands dirty, give back to their communities, and learn more about the world around them.

"Community tree planting days are the perfect way for our residents to become more familiar with the natural environment right in their backyard" says Baw Baw Shire Mayor, Annemarie McCabe.

"We are so pleased to have worked with our community on a number of recent environmental projects across the Shire, including at Golden Whistler Reserve where we joined Friends of Drouin's Trees, community members and volunteers to plant a variety of native shrubs to support our Shire's biodiversity."

Council's Natural environment team in partnership with a contractor planted close to 2000 plants around water edge and in the garden beds at Buln Buln Wetlands. The activity was supported by a number of Buln Buln primary school children eager to get involved with the planting and learn about the wetland's flora and fauna. The project was finalised with new interpretive signs installed along the walking trails for visitors to learn more about the reserve's habitat.

Check out a selection of pictures from our recent tree planting events below.