Baldwin Swamp is set to become a little greener thanks to a partnership between local students and Bundaberg Regional Council to celebrate National Schools Tree Day.
This week Bundaberg East State School planted 183 trees including paperbarks, eucalypts, wattles, crow’s ash and tuckeroos in the Baldwin Swamp land area with thanks to Council’s Natural Areas Officer Sally Obst and Natural Areas Rangers Ian Routledge and Laurence Delbridge.
The native plants were chosen to create a small forest similar to that found at Baldwin Swamp, with a range of plant heights and shapes, with flowers and fruits at different times of year to provide habitat and attract native birds and wildlife.
Bundaberg East State School Captain Dylan Landers said the opportunity to plant the trees was special, having never planted a tree before.
“It feels really special to be able to plant the trees today because I have never planted trees before and I want to help out,” Dylan said.
“If we get rid of all the trees, then there are no more, and they are what take the carbon dioxide and switch it to oxygen so we can breathe.
“I hope to plant twenty trees.”
Bundaberg Region Mayor Jack Dempsey said it was fantastic to see students getting involved in the opportunity to learn how to plant trees and be able to contribute to their environments.
“National Schools Tree Day provides a great opportunity for students to do something for the local environment and learn how to plant trees,” Mayor Dempsey said.
“I look forward to seeing the work continue with the wider community as well for National Tree Day on 1 August.”
National Tree Day is an initiative of Planet Ark and is Australia’s largest community tree planting and nature protection event.
The trees will also be counted towards the One Million Trees project tally, a Council initiative that aims to see one million trees planted in the Bundaberg Region by 2024.
For more information contact Council’s One Million Trees Project Officer on 1300 883 699 or head to the project page.
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