Simon Mulqueen from Bendigo Funerals has once again supported our local native environment by purchasing 100 trees and (very important for survival rates) tree guards. The trees went to Nicole Howie from the Northern Bendigo Landcare Group and were planted at Huntly Pound with the help of local kindergarten children, parents, kinder staff and landcarers. Nicole writes … “The Northern Bendigo Landcare Group had a very successful planting morning at the Old Huntly Pound site with 24 Huntly Kindergarten children. This site served as a Pound for the former Parish of Huntly (1867 and 1980’s), temporarily housing stray livestock until a fee was paid for their return.  Being a reserve, it remains today as a significant piece of remnant vegetation.  Mature Yellow Gums and native understorey species indicate vegetation typical of the Huntly landscape which is never more important than now when much of Epsom and Huntly is being developed. The site is managed by the Bendigo Field Naturalists Club with the assistance of Northern Bendigo Landcare Group and is being enhanced with further plantings and installation of nest boxes for habitat. The site is also unique as it hosts Huntly Kindergarten’s innovative Bush Kinder program giving local children valuable opportunities for explorative, unstructured and uninterrupted play in a natural setting. Thursday 23^rd was a scheduled Bush Kinder session for the children and staff so they were dressed ready for action in their winter woollies and were not deterred by the chilly conditions.  We chose five native species indigenous to the site:  Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha), Spreading Wattle (Acacia genistifolia), Gold Dust Wattle (Acacia acinacea), Yellow Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon) and Bushy Needlewood (Hakea decurrens).  We spoke with children about the importance of bush sites like these to native fauna and to the community and why we’d chosen the species we did (habitat, food source, etc) The children eagerly watched a planting demonstration then got to work. Despite being 4/5 yrs old, the children did a marvellous job – working together in pairs to choose plants, plant them carefully in pre-prepared holes, guard them and water them.  They were absolute troopers and made short work of the 100 plants with plenty of energy to spare. I spoke to the children about the importance of caring for these new plants and all plants at the site by treading carefully, not picking every blossom, leaving natural treasures they find at the site and telling their families all about what they learn there.  They respond very well to being the ‘custodians’ of the land and proud that they’ll be able to watch their plants grow. The Bush Kinder program is a wonderful opportunity for Kinder children and families to connect with nature and, as the local Landcare group, we love collaborating with both the Kinder and Huntly & Epsom Primary Schools to encourage a love and respect for our local environment. Thanks so much Simon for your generous donation. Nicole Howie, Secretary, Northern Bendigo Landcare Group   Huge thank you Simon and the team at Bendigo Funerals for your on-going support of both our native environment and our small rural kindergartens. Slainte – Colleen