susannah brook catchment group
On the morning of Thursday June 7th, year three and seven students at Gidge Primary, along with teachers Jenny Webster, Michelle Pengelly and parent volunteers descended on Blue Wren and Timbertop Reserves in nearby Stoneville, where they planted local native seedlings and mulched previous years' plantings.
Last year Gidge Primary students, teachers and parents planted more than 300 native plants and spread mulch over about one third of Timbertop Reserve. Friends of Timbertop Reserve coordinator Lisa Skrypichayko said the event was not just a great success in terms of raising awareness of environmental issues among the students, it also got a lot of vital work done at the reserve. She enthused "Thanks to funding from the Swan Alcoa Landcare Project and assistance of our local Susannah Brook Catchment Group, students have been able to come back, observe the results of their fantastic planting and mulching efforts last year, and then carry on to do even more great work at Timebrtop and Blue Wren"
Jenny Webster says that students are very aware of how important it is to look after our environment and community. Gidgegannup Primary School has taken great steps toward sustainability, having installed a composting system to reduce organic waste and using rainwater tanks for their water needs. Taking part in projects like this is another way that students learn to contribute positively to their community. "Our students love to participate in projects like this", says Ms Webster, adding, "Not only do they get a chance to learn about the biology of their own backyard, they can also give back to their community in a very tangible way."
Retired teacher and coordinator of the Friends of Blue Wren Reserve Sandy Stone extolls the value of getting young people involved in helping to restore our environment. "Learning to look after our bushland from a young age instills a respect for nature and her many diverse species. Years from now these students will be able to came back and visit trees that they themselves planted - maybe even pass along their environmental passion to their own kids one day."
Other recent Susannah Brook Catchment activities include a "City to Bush" planting day also held at Blue Wren Reserve, and ongoing planting days at the public open space off Strawberry Hill Drive.
There are many opportunities to get involved and learn about your environment with your local catchment or Friends Group - contact any of the representatives below for more information on landcare activities in YOUR backyard!
meetings
SBCG meets at 7.15pm every second Thursday of the month, February to October,
at the Gidgegannup Landcare Centre inside the Gidgegannup Showgrounds
(turn left inside the gate and follow the fence;
it is the green building set amongst trees).
local landcare contacts
