Green thumbs: Graham Halliburton with helpers Mattie and Manu.
More than 150 volunteers turned up on the outskirts of Broadford on June 17 and 18 to plant 3500 indigenous trees as part of an annual initiative by Glenaroua Land Management Group.
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Co-ordinated by South West Goulburn Land Care facilitator Sonia Sharkey, the project involved trees being planted along Cameron’s Creek on Burgess Rural property 3.5 kilometres north-west of Broadford.
Ms Sharkey said the area was an important habitat highway for various animals to move around, especially during disasters such as bushfires.
“It also attracts native birdlife and other fauna, provides a warm windbreak for animals and improves water quality in adjacent creeks as it filters the livestock manure before it hits the creeks,” she said.
Helping hands: Property owner Jan Evans with Jade and Annabelle Gooden.
Glenaroua Land Management Group president Paul Fleming said that the group had been creating ‘biolinks’ like what was seen at the weekend for more than 25 years.
“The tree planting assists in reducing salinity, stabilising erosion and creating vegetation corridors which help maintain health ecosystems,” he said.
“A wonderful aspect of this event is bringing together urban and country folk, young and old, being exposed to worthy environmental projects likes this.”
Many of the volunteers have been coming for years, including the Pajero Club, the Doncaster Secondary College Interact Club and Broadford Scouts.
Returning year after year, many participants have become friends.
First-time volunteer Bella brought her children and was grateful to be involved, promising to return next year.
Southern Mitchell Rotarians have been an invaluable partner in this collaboration, providing much appreciated nourishment on a winter weekend.
The project relies on farmers such as Burgess Rural principal Jan Evans being willing to plant the trees on their properties and there is no doubt the environment is enhanced and livestock is protected through projects run by Landcare.
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