Port Macquarie Landcare Group has been successful in its application for a grant through the NRMA Community Grants Program for 2011 for the Hastings Public School Rainforest project.
Co-ordinator and Landcare member Janet Watson advised the rainforest project has been actively worked on over the last seven years, but was initiated about 15 years ago.
The “Environment Friends” team consists of over 40 students from the school ranging from Year 3 to Year 6, who are actively involved in the revegetation of the area.
The $4683 grant from NRMA will be used for weed removal, tree planting and the purchase of weed identification manuals which will be a resource for the school library.
Local business “Wild Things” were contracted to remove the weeds, mainly taro from the wetland area, as this job was too big and muddy for school children.
The children were able to watch the process and even helped carry the bags of removed weeds to the carpark.
Two trailer loads, or 1.3 tonnes, of weed waste was taken to the tip where Port Macquarie Hastings Council picked up the tip fees.
The grant will also pay for 500 trees which will be supplied by the Port Macquarie Landcare Community Nursery and planted by the students throughout the year.
Already over 100 trees have been planted, with Port Macquarie Landcare having regular working bees on a Monday morning at the school. Students who are part of the “Environment Friends” team help out in their lunch breaks.
Janet Watson said she is proud of the involvement from so many sectors of the community and the enthusiasm the students and Landcarers have for the school rainforest project.
“The students are able to see the whole process of removing the weeds, planting the trees and seeing them grow to create a habitat that attracts native wildlife right in their school grounds,” she said.
“This grant from NRMA will provide a big boost to achieving this in a shorter timeframe and provide an excellent educational opportunity for the students.
“Already a diamond python has been seen in the rainforest, indicating we are on the right track. If you build it, they will come.”
Any parents or neighbours wanting to get involved in the Monday morning working bee from 8.30am — 12.30pm are invited to contact Janet Watson by calling 6582 5265.
