In a project that’s planted over 10,000 native trees and been bringing people together for over five years, the Sustainable Communities Committee of Rotary District 9810 recently completed its annual tree planting project for 2016.

The project involves Rotarians from the suburbs of east Melbourne (Rotary Clubs of Doncaster, Rotary Club of Mount Albert and Surrey Hills and the Rotaract Clubs of Monash and Whitehorse) raising native seedlings from the Tree Project organisation in their own backyards. After tending to the seedlings for over six months, volunteers have the chance to get their hands dirty, planting the trees on properties in the Beaufort region, supporting local Landcare efforts to rebuild nature corridors and decrease erosion and salinity.

On Sunday September 11^th, this year’s seedlings: a variety of eucalypt, wattle and other native species locally indigenous to the area were planted. The location of this years planting was at Buln Gherin (a property near Beaufort).

Three “generations” of Rotary groups participated on the day – three Rotary clubs, two Rotaract clubs and Interactors from Ashwood High School. Although challenged by the weather conditions, only around a third of the trees grown this year were planted by volunteers on the actual Tree Planting Day, with local volunteers, land owners and drought employment crew completing the remainder in the following weeks.

Planters had a chance to see the past two years’ trees flourishing and enjoyed some lovely country hospitality from the landowners and the Rotary Club of Beaufort.