Local kids delight in Schools Tree Day

Forty children and their parents came together to plant 1,500 sedges and shrubs to enhance habitat for threatened Carnaby’s Black Cockatoos and Red-tailed Black Cockatoos along the Serpentine River to mark Schools Tree Day on Friday 27 July.

Children from Byford Childcare Centre, local homeschoolers, Eton Farm Education, and some local primary school students were involved in the planting day made possible by Greening Australia and Alcoa on the banks of the Serpentine River in Federation Park.

The work is part of the Three Rivers Partnership between Greening Australia and Alcoa, which focuses on on-ground projects to improve the health of the Serpentine, Murray and Harvey rivers over the next three years.

Greening Australia has been restoring the site since 2012, removing arum lily from the river banks, planting native species, and increasing interaction between the local community and the river, which was previously inaccessible due to the extent of the weed infestation. The site was recently cleared of weeds and fenced to reduce the number of Kangaroos that were grazing on the succulent new plants.

Alcoa of Australia Chairman and Managing Director Michael Parker thanked the volunteers involved in the planting day and similar activities.

“Alcoa is proud to partner with groups like Greening Australia on important environmental work like the Three Rivers Partnership,” Mr Parker said.

“We also value the opportunity to support and partner with the wonderful volunteers from across the community who play a vital role in helping protect and enhance our local environment.”

Greening Australia CEO Brendan Foran said the organisation valued its partnership with Alcoa.

“We have been in a continuous partnership with Alcoa for the entire 35 years we have been in operation,” Mr Foran said.

“The Three Rivers initiative presents a renewed partnership opportunity to extend our collaboration and to improve the condition of these three significant rivers.”

Mr Foran thanked the community members who came along to the planting day, which was organised in conjunction with Serpentine Jarrahdale Landcare group and their community supporters.

This event was supported through funding from the Alcoa Foundation for Three Rivers One Estuary and forms part of Greening Australia’s flagship Great Southern Landscapes program.