A better future is certainly on the cards for our youth.
A program to engage school aged students in conservation works has commenced.
Duke of Edinburgh students from Heritage Christian School are the first to start work under the “Young Wild Connections” project.
In just three visits, over 150 trees and shrubs have been planted lovingly alongside the trails at the Port Macquarie Urban Mountain Bike Trails near Koala St.
The list of wildlife sighted at the park is increasing.
Improving the habitat is only going to help the wild things thrive. Project co-ordinator, Jai Cooper of Conservation Volunteers explains, “A mob of roos frequents the site.
“We’ve seen birdlife including a Brahminy Kite, reptiles including bluetongues and skinks, many of the trees have animal scratchings,” he said.
“The site provides a good corridor from the water storage reservoir across the ridge at Kooloonbung Creek.”
The plants provide habitat for wildlife and improve the trail network.
Vegetation will provide shade for the future, erosion and sediment control and an increasingly beautiful experience for park users. In places, buffer zones have been planted to provide privacy for the neighbours.
The Young Wild Connections Project is more than just planting.
Students will get the chance to experience a range of conservation works. Activities offered include: planting, weed control, beach clean-ups, litter surveys, track construction, installing signage and supporting event management, even a visit to the region’s recycling and composting facilities is planned to give an insight into where our waste goes.
The program is already proving popular with high schools to assist in delivery of their Duke of Edinburgh and Premier’s Award Schemes.
Young Wild Futures is funded by NSW Communities through the Better Futures Strategy and delivered locally by Conservation Volunteers Australia.
This project is funded by Communities NSW through the Better Futures Strategy. Better Futures is a prevention and early intervention program which aims to improve outcomes for young people and is a New South Wales Government initiative to improve support and services for children and young people aged nine to 18 years.
