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Tree planting volunteers needed for National Tree DayLatrobe City’s environment is about to benefit from thousands of trees being planted in conjunction with Planet Ark’s National Tree Day and National School’s Tree Day. By Latrobe City Council - 21st July 2003 - Back to News Organised nationally by Planet Ark, Toyota and AMP Foundation, this year’s National Tree Day has added importance as local communities come together to replace trees lost in the bushfires and drought.
Wights Toyota, AMP, Latrobe City, Lions Clubs Australia, Landcare, Edison Mission Energy, Yallourn Energy, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, Grand Ridge Plantations, Waterwatch and a number of schools in Latrobe City are involved in several projects taking place at the end of July, where thousands of trees will be planted.
The public are urged to volunteer their services as tree planters at events taking place at Churchill and Moe, on Sunday 27 July. "National Tree Day is very easy to get involved in. Even if you’re new to planting trees, you’ll find there’s help available on the day to show you how," Latrobe City Mayor, Councillor Middlemiss said.
Robyn Wilson, from Wight’s Toyota said that the aim of National Tree Day is to get people to plant trees and shrubs that are native to the local area. ‘Planet Ark, Toyota and AMP Foundation are delighted that Latrobe City, Edison Mission Energy, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority, Landcare, Grand Ridge Plantations and various other organizations are all getting involved in this year’s National Tree Day. Together we’re all making a big difference," she said.
In Churchill, The Churchill’s Lions Club is organising their Planet Ark National Tree Day event in conjunction with Latrobe City Council. More than 400 trees donated by Latrobe City Council are expected to be planted opposite Glendonald Park to enhance the local environment. Treeguards have been donated by Planet Ark in conjunction with Toyota and AMP. Volunteers should meet at the site in Philip Parade at 10am on Sunday 27 July. Call John Tipping from Churchill Lions on 5166 1372 for further details.
In Moe as part of the Planet Ark National Tree Day, 540 trees are expected to be planted along the banks of Narracan Creek as it runs through the Moe Botanical Gardens. Site preparation has been undertaken by Yallourn Energy, who have donated the trees and are supplying a barbecue for the volunteers. Landcare and Latrobe City Council are organising the event and it commences at 10am on Sunday 27 July. The meeting point for registration is the Moe Tennis Club/Botanical Gardens carpark. For further details contact Stacey Avard, telephone 5172 2157 or mobile 0428 233 442.
"Last year, National Tree Day attracted 225,000 volunteers – more than four times the number of people who volunteered for the Sydney Olympics. They planted over 2 million native trees at nearly 3,000 sites across Australia," Central Latrobe Landcare Network Coordinator, Stacey Avard said.
A number of schools in Latrobe City are celebrating National School’s Tree Day, holding their events on Friday 25 July. Five-hundred trees will be planted by children from Grey Street Primary School along the Traralgon Creek line between Shakespeare Street and Whittakers Road, with the aim of revegetating the site and stabilising the creek banks to prevent erosion. Traralgon Lions will be providing a barbecue for the schoolchildren.
Three local primary schools will plant trees with assistance from the Yallourn-Tyers District Landcare Group at the Wirilda Environment Park. Students will also participate in three workshops, which will be run by Waterwatch, Landcare and Pest Plant Coordinator, Peter Steller. Yallourn Energy is the major sponsor for the day supplying trees and hosting a barbecue for the students.
The Boolarra Primary School will also be on the job, planting 100 trees donated by Latrobe City on the Friday; while Stockdale Road Primary will be involved in a ‘Greenfleet’ planting on the Traralgon Creek between Victory Park and the Agnes Brereton Reserve with Latrobe City on 31 July and 1 August.
An additional 2000 seedlings have been donated by Wight’s Toyota, Edison Mission Energy, West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority and Grand Ridge Plantations and have been allocated to various school beautification projects.
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com

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