Have you helped out at one of the many community planting days that have taken place across the region lately? If not, you’re missing out on a whole lot of fun, including getting outdoors, being emerged in community spirit, and helping to restore our local natural environment.
The tree planting days are usually led by one of the many volunteer community groups from across our region who are working to revegetate and care for the land and coastlines on their patch.
It’s a good thing son to look after #beach so you & your friends can enjoy it. @NACC_NRM pic.twitter.com/nNwY6ns9iK
— Stanley Yokwe (@StanleyYokwe) June 18, 2016
This year celebrates 20 years of National Tree Day – an initiative from Planet Ark which started in 1996. The Tree Day is an opportunity for community groups and local schools to do something positive for their local environment and community and to reconnect with the nature and give back to the local community in a meaningful way.
In the spirit of celebrating 20 years of National Tree Day’s, the Northern Agricultural Catchments Council supported eight groups including the City of the Great Geraldton to run a series of tree planting days across the region.
The City of Greater Geraldton has already successfully completed seven tree planting events over the past three weeks – with more still to come – with an aim of planting more than 25,000 seedlings this winter.
“We could not have asked for better weather conditions for our community planting days at various sites,” said Megan O’Grady CGG Environmental Planning Officer. We had a great turnout with a whopping 200 community members at our seven events, and plenty of new faces.”
“An amazing total of 3,375 native and local provenance seedlings were planted, all of which had been grown in the community nursery” she said.
NACC thanks @CityofGG and all community volunteers involved in planting 500 seedlings at Back Beach today @NACC_NRM pic.twitter.com/zX0tIwyrpS
— Stanley Yokwe (@StanleyYokwe) June 18, 2016
“Our nation is facing a lot of challenges – from habitat loss and climate change to land degradation problems – and so, by planting trees in our local environment, we can not only help provide habitat and groundcover, and reduce the impact of climate change, but also help people to connect with nature, and each other, and have fun,” said Stanley Yokwe NACC Regional Landcare Facilitator.
There are more tree planting days still to come. So, please keep an eye on NACC’s events calendar over the next month to find out when the next community planting day is scheduled near you.
The City of Greater Geraldton tree planting events have been supported by NACC through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Facilitator as part of the Regional Landcare Facilitator project. Other funding contributions come from the CGG’s 20 Million Trees and the State NRM Program.
Other partners involve in delivering these events include Leaning Tree Community School, Geraldton Flexible Learning, NAGLE College, ILUKA, Cummins, NACC, Chapman River Friends, Department of Park and Wildlife, Department of Water, Batavia Coast Maritime Institute, CGG’s Green Army project, Meedac & Skill hire (Work for the Dole Teams), and Greenough Prison.
The City of Greater Geraldton and NACC team thank all the individuals and partner organisations for their support in making tree planting days successful.
