Restoring landscapes across the Mount Alexander Region

From little things big things grow……

Posted on 1 July, 2015 by Connecting Country

planted shrub picConnecting Country’s first community planting for 2015 got off to a flying start in Harcourt on a blustery Thursday morning last week.   Grades 5 and 6 pupils from Harcourt Valley Primary School enthusiastically picked up the tools and planted in some 380 native plants on Annette and Bruce’s Harcourt property.   Many plants were given names as they were planted in, such as “Daddy long legs”, “Star” and “Spider” for She-oaks, and “Tiny”, “Garfield” and “Leaf” for some Acacia species. It was a shame we didn’t have a marker pen to write the plants’ new names on their individual guards.   It was a matter of running out of plants rather than names!

Many thanks to Principal Annette Smith for supporting the planting event, to school staff Matt and Mrs Rice who came with the students, and the students themselves.   A big thank you as well to Annette, who proved herself to be not only passionate about native plants on her land, but also an amazing baker who appeared with chocolate brownies, banana cake, and apple cake fresh from the oven, and then took us all on a guided walk through the property to look at good plants and unwelcome ones such as gorse. The children impressed us with their knowledge about plants, erosion, pest animals and weeds.

Connecting Country’s second Community Planting will be on Sat 25 July from 10 am to 1230 pm in the Walmer area. This planting is a book-themed event and is being undertaken in conjunction with the Castlemaine library. Books do come from trees after all (unless you use a kindle)! We will have catering and a talk from a local award-winning children’s author Trace Balla about her connection to the landscape.

Further details about this planting day will be posted on the Connecting Country website, and through the Castlemaine Library’s networks. Registrations will be required for this one, for catering purposes (email jules@connectingcountry.org.au for early bird registrations). There will also be some limited minibus transport which you can sign up for when you register. Car pooling is of course encouraged. We look forward to seeing you on July 25.

2 responses to “From little things big things grow……”

  1. Carol Barker says:

    A great way to get the kids involved in hands-on conservation. Sounds like they already know quite a bit and the practical experience will stay with them hopefully for a lifetime.

  2. Saide Gray says:

    This sounds a terrific event. Am sorry to be unable to attend the next event and hope there are some more in the future.

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