Students get planting early

Since 1996, more than 2.5 million volunteers have planted 16 million native trees, shrubs and grasses.

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WHILE it is National Tree Day officially this Sunday, July 31, schools are planting early with the annual Schools National Tree Day happening tomorrow, so that students can take part in plantings.

Richmond Landcare Incorporated has 39 junior Landcare groups in schools and many of them are organizing events in their own schools, while at the ‘senior’ level Ballina Coastcare has their annual event on Sunday at which the public can participate.

“Many of the junior groups and other schools are participating in the Day organized by Planet Ark across Australia and will be planting trees and organizing other activities for their students. We are really pleased that this event is supported by schools throughout our region who already have a strong commitment to the environment,” Richmond Landcare’s schools landcare officer, Lyn Thomson said.

Member schools like Lismore Heights Primary School, Evans River, and Alstonville are having special native rainforest tree plantings tomorrow, while on Sunday the public is invited to join members of Ballina Coastcare at the Overpass at Angels Beach to help plant trees in the coastal strip near Flat Rock, East Ballina, from 8.30am to noon.

Another Richmond Landcare member group, the Friends of the Lismore Rainforest Botanic Gardens is having an Open Day at the gardens, on Wyrallah Road, on Sunday and are inviting the public along to join in the festivities.

From 10am there will be trees and shrubs ready to plant and everyone is welcome, especially families. Northern Rivers Waste is sponsoring a free sausage sizzle and the lucky gate prize of a compost bin or worm farm to be drawn at midday.

Since 1996, more than 2.5 million volunteers have planted 16 million native trees, shrubs and grasses. Tree Day lets people of all ages get involved in a fun and friendly community event to look after their parks, schools and bushland, with long-lasting benefits for the entire community.

Richmond Landcare provides support services to the community for natural resource management on behalf of the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority in the Lismore and Ballina local government areas.

Richmond Landcare Inc. now has 99 member groups across the whole Richmond River catchment. Through a commitment to fostering Landcare at a young age, in the last three years the number of school Landcare groups has grown from three to 39.