In September, students from across the whole school slipped on their gumboots and sun hats and made their way into Basset Creek to lend a helping hand, pulling weeds and planting out local indigenous species in their place. Trent and Mannin from Southern Ecosystems Management joined us for the day, showing the children how to identify weeds and safely remove them. ‘Sedges have edges, reeds are round, grasses have knees that bend to the ground’
Over two hundred riparian and salt tolerant plants were planted along the stretch of the creek between the class one yard and the junior oval. The plants were sourced from local expert Frances at Newstead Natives. Frances collects seeds and propagates all her plants herself. We piled high the invasive spiny rush and destroyed their seed heads in a brazier.
The purpose of the project is to improve upon the wetlands across the school. We aim to increase the local plant and animal biodiversity by replacing invasive species with natives and by enhancing habitat opportunities with logs, nesting boxes etc.
We will continue monitoring the water health using programs such as River Detectives, testing for macroinvertebrate life, water salinity, turbidity and more.
Nicole Howie from the NCCMA’s River Detectives program joined the school on the second day of Wetlands Management Project to show the children how to use our new equipment.
If you are a school or member of a community group and would like to access our wetlands for you own revegetation or River Detectives project please feel free to contact us at enquiries@cssk.vic.edu.au and ask for an expression of interest form.
We would like to thank Mount Alexander Shire Council and the Community Grants program, which funded the Wetlands Management Project and new River Detectives equipment.
