National Tree Day at Gooralong Brook

On Sunday 31st July 65 people confronted the windy, rainy and cold weather to plant 2500 seedlings.

Seedling in front of Old Mill Managers House, Gooralong Brook, Jarrahdale

2,500 seedlings all ready to be planted

 

It was great to see so many kids dragging their mums, dads and grandparents down to the creek to plant the sedge species, then running back for more trays of seedlings.

People at Gooralong Brook

The first planters start to arrive

 

The mist and rain only made the planting area more beautiful, although the hot cuppa and delicious morning tea made by the Jarrahdale Heritage Society were a welcome way of warming up for everyone.

People planting seedlings on National Tree Day at Gooralong Brook, Jarrahdale

Happy Planters

 

And then the sunshine emerged during the second half of the morning!  Music from folk band “Kindred Spirits” floated down the valley as everyone planted. This provided a perfect soundtrack to the event, and included an original song “Living Streams” written before the event by band member Chris Portlock.

 Wet Planters

Happy Wet Planters

 

Jarrahdale Heritage Society

The Jarrahdale Heritage Society has worked very hard to remove the black wattle species and many other weeds. They have tidied up the project area over the past several years. This area runs along the Gooralong valley from the Old Mill Manager’s House to the Fjord crossing at Jarrahdale Rd.

People holding seedlings at Gooralng Brook

More Happy Planters

 

Landcare SJ is proud to be a part of this project, coordinating the revegetation component of the rehabilitation. We are seeing pleasing results, with good seedling survival and some natural regeneration.

Over the past 3 seasons, 7000 seedlings have been planted at the project site.  This is not the end! We will continue to work with the Jarrahdale Heritage Society to look after the site. This will hopefully ensure the environmental, cultural and historical recovery continues well into the future.

Gooralong Brook, Jarrahdale

Sunshine at last

 

Thanks go to the project and event funders: State NRM Program, National Trust, SJ Food and Farm Alliance, Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale, Byford and Districts Bendigo Bank.

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