Green thumbs are invited to roll up their sleeves to help plant 5,000 native plants on Sunday, July 16, at the Grow West community planting day on Wadawurrung Country near Ballan.
Grow West has worked to improve and restore degraded landscapes in the west since 2003, planting more than 1.4 million seedlings, rehabilitating 2,500 hectares of land and engaging 3,000 volunteers in this time.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary, Grow West will be planting 20,000 seedlings across the landscape during this planting season, with 5,000 of these to be planted on the community planting day.
Grow West coordinator Lindy MacRaild said it’s very exciting to run the community planting day at a location that will improve connectivity through the landscape, link to previous Grow West
plantings along the Werribee River, and support several new revegetation
projects.
“By participating in the 2023 planting, the community will be helping to rejuvenate habitat that will benefit wildlife in this river corridor,” she said.
This year, Grow West is partnering with Central Highlands Water (CHW) and holding
the planting day at the Ballan Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Planting will occur along the eastern boundary fence of the property and along an escarpment of a creek that runs into the Werribee River.
Planting here will improve connectivity throughout the area and connect habitat in the rail reserve at the south of the site to the escarpment planting in the north.
Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation is undertaking site preparation for the planting.
Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation Caring for Country general manager Greg Robinson said it is paramount for Wadawurrung to be a part of preparing the site for the
planting day, so that land management is rightfully in the hands of Wadawurrung Traditional Owners.
“We thank Grow West for including us in the process, this supports our right to
access and care for Country, and the delivery of cultural knowledge and
services as described in our Paleert Tjarra Dja – Wadawurrung Country Plan,” he said.
The Grow West community planting day is on Sunday, July 16 from 9.30am to 4pm at the Ballan Wastewater Treatment Plant, Ingliston Road, Ballan.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided. To reduce waste, bringing your own plates and cups is requested.
Details: growwest.com.au.
