Local kids delight in Schools National Tree Day

Forty children and their parents came together to plant 1,500 sedges and shrubs along with the Serpentine River last Friday (27 July) during a School National Tree Day made possible by Greening Australia and Alcoa.

Children from Byford Childcare Centre, local home-schoolers, Eton Farm Education, and some local primary school students were involved in the planting day on the banks of the Serpentine River in Federation Park.

The area has recently been cleared of weeds and fenced to reduce the number of Kangaroos grazing on the new plants. The sedges and shrubs will enhance the habitat for two threatened bird species, Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo and the Red Tailed Black Cockatoo.

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

Greening Australia has been working at this site since 2012 removing arum lily from the riparian area, 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.

Alcoa of Australia Chairman and Managing Director Michael Parker thanked the volunteers involved in this 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 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 planting day, which was organised in conjunction with Serpentine Jarrahdale Landcare group and their community supporters.


Media contacts:

• Greening Australia: Kate Wright at kwright@greeningaustralia.org.au / 0428 699 584
• Alcoa: Jane McGuire at jane.mcguire@alcoa.com / 0410 694 676 or Sonia Nolan at sonia.nolan@alcoa.com / 0401 034 103

About Greening Australia:
With teams in 30 locations around the country and over 150 staff, Greening Australia is a proudly independent not-for-profit organisation. The team uses the latest science to guide what’s best for the landscapes and the people and wildlife that live in them. Greening Australia started conserving and restoring Australia’s unique landscapes in 1982 and haven’t stopped since.

Greening Australia is committed to tackling Australia’s biggest environmental challenges with the best science and the best people, to return life to landscapes and balance to the natural environment in ways that work for communities, economies and nature.