A tree planting day held at Ingliston Park, Ballan on Sunday 18th July attracted 137 volunteers from all over Melbourne and the local towns of Ballan, Bacchus Marsh and Melton. They came out and braved the cold windy winter’s day to help plant out 5,000 indigenous trees.
Volunteers ranged from the very young; two years of age to families with three generations present. The cold windy day didn’t put a dampener to the atmosphere which was filled with fun, laughter, busyness and sheer determination of meeting the target on a challenging but picturesque landscape. Well I’m happy to report that we met the target of 5,000 trees with Mother Nature doing her part with the rain falling as the last tree was being planted.
The planting of 5,000 trees on the Ingliston Park property is part of a larger Grow West / Melbourne Water revegetation project which is currently undergoing the rehabilitation of 12km of waterway through stock fencing and planting of 15,000 indigenous plants. Volunteer contribution to this project has been of environmental and social importance. By recognising that our environmental assets are under stress and by taking action and spreading the word, individuals who band together can achieve environmental change at a landscape level.
On behalf of the planting day team (Grow West Implementation Committee, Victorian National Parks Association and Friends of Werribee Gorge and Long Forest Mallee) and the landholder Noel Vincent, we would like to thank all the volunteers that attended the planting day.
We would like to thank those that have contributed to the community planting day; both in kind through their efforts and financially, including DSE’s Vision for Werribee Plains project and others including Parks Victoria, Moorabool Shire Council, Victorian Mobile Landcare Group, Bacchus Marsh Lions Club and VLine.
We have posted photos of the day. Photos courtesy of Kirsty Reid (Friends of Werribee Gorge and Long Forest Mallee).
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