Kwoorabup Nature School and Shire of Denmark partner to plant 500 native seedlings for Schools Tree Day

Kwoorabup Nature School and Shire of Denmark joined forces to revegetate local bushland by planting native seedlings for Schools Tree Day. The annual tree-planting day aims to encourage young students to put their green thumbs to use by planting trees to help promote biodiversity, according to the Shire. Shire revegetation officer Mark Parre helped students collect plant material and seeds from nearby reserves and propagate them into seedlings. The students planted more than 500 seedlings from 25 native species such as acacias, bossiaeas and melaleucas across two sites near the school on July 29. Kwoorabup Nature School teacher Olly Watkins said caring for the environment was an integral part of the school program for both students and staff. “This involves both nurturing the environments we have and creating opportunities for regeneration,” he said. “We are so grateful for the support of the Denmark Shire and the local knowledge and passion of Mark Parre. “He has provided quality knowledge and inspiration to our students in collecting seed, germinating, growing and planting local species to regenerate our local environment.” The students also undertook weed control at the revegetation sites to help minimise invasive species in the area prior to planting. This year’s collaboration was part of an ongoing project that he Shire and local school had been working on since 2020. Shire sustainability officer Yvette Caruso said the school planting project fostered and enabled ongoing connection with nature and country. “We hope community planting days, like our Schools Tree Day planting day recently, are inspiring the next generation of our community to care for the environment, particularly our beautiful native bushland in Denmark,” she said.