The fundraiser was organised by the Bendigo Branch of the Australian Greens, and ran for the month of October. Over the course of the month, funds were raised to enable the Northern Bendigo Landcare Group (NBLG) to plant 100 indigenous plants at Bendigo Creek Streamside Reserve on Djaara country.

The site is significant to Northern Bendigo Landcare Group because it is part of their Bendigo Creek Habitat Restoration Project. This Project is ongoing; indeed the group have been working on it for the past 10 years. Their aim is to boost the ailing Creekline Grassy Woodland vegetation community.

This particular site had been revegetated in 2019 but was then lost to fire during January 2020 and NBLG have been replacing plantings since.  Some River Red Gums have survived, more have germinated due to the fire but very few shrubs or grasses remained.  The Landcare group have been holding group working bees to add mass plantings of native plants in exclusion plots for protection from rabbits. The group have been planting species such as Lightwood Wattle, Black Wattle, Yellow Box and Golden Wattle. These plants will one day provide shelter and food for local native animals such as sugar gliders, brushtail possums and honeyeater birds.

In September, the local Epsom Primary School reached out to NBLG.  The Prep class at the school were studying ‘how things grow’ and wondered if the Landcare group could help, and so they were invited on site to:

• learn about indigenous native plants,
• the local fauna that relies on them,
• why they are vital to the health of the riverine environment and
• to help plant some trees.

The Preps were joined by their Grade 6 buddies and after only one hour on site, all 100 students had worked in pairs to plant 500 natives and leave the area much healthier than they’d found it.  Many hands make light work!

Thanks to our sponsors at Bendigo Greens, this support enabled us to collaborate with a local primary school and provide a memorable outdoor learning experience for the youth of our area.  We hope they’ll visit in future and admire their grown trees with pride.

Nicole Howie | Coordinator | Bendigo North Landcare

Thank you Ian Grundy for organising this fundraiser for the Bendigo Greens, your support has enabled the NBLG to continue with their work on the Bendigo Creek Habitat Restoration Project.

If you would like to know more about sponsoring community tree planting projects and how we can assist you in running a fundraiser, please contact Colleen at <[email protected]> and check out our fundraising page.

Writer: Colleen Filippa

With a background in Environmental Science, Colleen is the Founding Director of Fifteen Trees. In 2009, after 20 years in primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions, Colleen left the classroom to start the company. Fifteen Trees is a social enterprise assisting individuals and companies to reduce their carbon footprint by supporting community groups such as Landcare, schools and environmental networks.