Bacchus Marsh students have helped to protect important habitats for native wildlife by teaming up with Parks Victoria.
New signs designed by Bacchus Marsh Grammar environmental science students for the Lerderderg State Park and Brisbane Ranges National Park were officially launched earlier this month.
The project was part of an initiative from Parks Victoria and the Department of Land, Water and Environment (DELWP) to create more habitats for wildlife by repurposing aging trees that posed a risk to park visitors.
Parks Victoria area chief ranger Stuart Lardner said the goal was to make visitors safer and provide more nesting opportunities for wildlife.
“Old trees provide more food and nesting sites than younger trees so it is important to protect as many as we can,” Mr Lardner said.
The Bacchus Marsh students designed a range of signs to inform visitors on the importance of ‘habitat trees’ and one final design was selected for display across the parklands.
Parks Victoria education officer Vanessa Wiggenraad helped to teach the students about designing an effective sign and worked with them throughout the process.
“The students were really interested to learn about the different animals like the vulnerable Brush-tailed Phascogale who regularly breed and live within the habitat trees,” she said.
“The students were thrilled to see their work printed for display throughout the park, it was a great opportunity for the local community to make a positive impact in their neighbourhood,
The class did an amazing job.”
Olivia Condous
