CERES (Centre of Education and Research in Environmental Strategies) is an award winning, not-for-profit park located on 4.5 hectares on the Merri Creek in Melbourne. The park offers many services including a food market, nursery, cafe, education programs and guided tours (not only of the centre but OS and outback Australia). The list goes on …. [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

The community environmental park offers school programs that link with both sustainability and the National Curriculum. Schools visiting the park are given the option to buy 2 trees to help collect the carbon emissions of their bus (one tree to the centre, one tree back to school). The trees are planted by community groups such as schools and Landcare. Last year, 60 trees were planted at Managatang PS on the behalf of CERES and their visiting schools. This year, 140 trees were planted at Flowerdale in the Murrindindi Shire. All up … 200 trees representing 100 bus trips to and from CERES. [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

‘Dear Colleen. We managed to get the majority of the trees planted today. The terrain was steep and the weather started out bright and still. However, by lunchtime, rain had started. The bonus of rain on planting day, means the seedlings get a great start. The Joblin site has been progressively planted over a 16 year period, with stock being excluded since then. The previously bare hill with less than two dozen remnant trees, (Red Stringybark, Yellow Box, Victorian Blue Gum and Long Leafed Box) is now shaping up. Huge thank you to CERES and Fifteen Trees. The 140 trees were part of a bigger planting project of 2,000 trees’. Steve Joblin, Coordinator Flowerdale Landcare. [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

Thank you Shane French and the team at CERES for your on-going support of our native environment. Also a huge thank you to the schools who ‘ticked’ the ‘reduce my carbon footprint’ on the CERES’ website. Slainte – Colleen[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]