Thousands of trees and shrubs were planted last Friday by students from PLC and Armidale High School when they took part in National Schools Tree Day.
Sites already significant-ly revitalised by the highly successful Hi-Cub Project were worked on by the students at the Drummond Park Bushland and Avellis Ellery People’s Park. Armidale High School students worked in their own backyard on regenerating the school grounds, planting out behind the sporting fields.
Nic Cobcroft, Project Manager from Southern New England Landcare, helped the students plant 500 Tea Tree at the Avellis Ellery People’s Park along Dumaresq Creek.
“We have had around 55 Year 7 and 8 PLC students come to finish off one of our creek biodiversity plantings,” said Nic.
“We have noticed massive results within a year in the urban areas that we have planted out and, if we just keep on adding to that over the next 10 to 20 years, you will be walking through forests and all sorts of beautiful places full of local fauna.
“This is a really positive activity for kids to be involved in. The environment is in so much crisis that, if you can be involved in something really positive, it keeps the momentum going.”
David Moffitt, Special Projects Coordinator at PLC Armidale, said that PLC are committed to connecting with local community groups like Landcare.
“Our partnership with Southern New England Landcare is really important to us,” said David.
“At PLC we are looking to encourage kids to be aware of what is going on in their world.”
National Tree Day and Schools Tree Day combine to make Australia’s biggest community tree-planting and nature care event where community members can come together to improve the natural environment in which they live.
Story: Jo Harrison
