Winter planting season has begun

Volunteers aim to plant 1,000 seedlings at the winter season’s first community event on Sunday June 20, on Tait Place, Coolbellup, between 9-11am.

In coming weeks, students from local schools will get involved and another community volunteer planting day is scheduled for 9-11am, Saturday 3 July on the corner of Coolbellup Avenue and Forrest Road.

A corporate volunteer planting event will be held in the corridor near Bibra Lake on Saturday, 5 June for World Environment Day, adding 500 seedlings.

Roe 8 Rehabilitation Project Manager Isabella Streckhardt said the remainder of the seedlings would be planted out by local ecological restoration contractors Bibra Lake-based Natural Area Management Services.

“The Nyungar 'fertility season' of Makuru in June and July is when rainfall is most abundant, making it the perfect time for planting out new seedlings. This time last year 71,000 seedlings were planted in the corridor," Ms Streckhardt said.

"This program is increasing habitat values and benefits a range of local native animals including threatened species such as the Carnaby’s and Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoos.

“Other priority listed species such as Quendas also can increase their numbers with the provision of good vegetation cover to protect them from predators, and provide food.

“Tubestock will be planted across eight areas from Bibra Drive through to Stock Road. This will include infill areas planted in 2018, 2019 and 2020 to ensure levels of density provide the best opportunity for restoration success.

“Planning for this year’s revegetation program has been ongoing since last September when seed collection and plant propagation began.”

“It takes many months to collect seed, some of which was collected in 2018, 2019 and 2020 to get it to the stage where it can be successfully planted.

“Plant material used in propagation has been sourced locally from within City of Cockburn reserves and other areas within a 50-70km radius of the project site to ensure as much local adaptability as possible.”

All plants, tools and equipment will be provided for the 20 June and 3 July planting events, as well as a light morning tea.

Volunteers must register for the 20 June opens in a new windowand the 3 July opens in a new windowevents.

These State Government-funded events are part of the Rehabilitating Roe 8 opens in a new windowproject.