National Tree Planting Week: Restoring the Landscape and Expanding Habitat

Students from Maddingley and Woodlea Campuses came together at Staughton Vale during National Tree Planting Week to revegetate the bottom of Grandma’s Gully, expanding wildlife corridors that follow the property’s natural waterways and connect nearby Brisbane Ranges National Park.

Supported by a Landcare Biodiversity Grant and Moorabool Landcare Facilitator Roger MacRaild, Year 10 Staughton Vale Ambassadors and enthusiastic Year 3 and 4, Prep and ELC students planted approximately 900 indigenous trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers.

The planting of native vegetation corridors connecting the National Park to the campus, creates valuable habitat for native flora and fauna, thereby increasing opportunities for native wildlife to thrive. As these planting areas mature, it is hoped they will contribute to an expanding network of habitat that enhances biodiversity across the region and improves the long-term ecological health of the landscape.

This year’s planting marked a significant milestone, with over 5,000 local native plants now established across Staughton Vale through annual planting programs.

In addition to planting, the Year 10 Staughton Vale Ambassadors built and installed nesting boxes in mature trees and several student-designed wildlife bridges. The bridges support more vulnerable species such as the Brushtail Phascogale to move safely from tree to tree across the campus.

Students also collected and germinated native seeds from around the property, helping to grow plants for future revegetation projects.

Planting days, ecological surveys and other horticultural activities are part of Bacchus Marsh Grammar’s ongoing commitment to educate students about the importance of biodiversity and healthy ecosystems, while empowering them to become active custodians of the land and Global Citizens.

The Staughton Vale Campus provides a unique outdoor learning environment, offering students a wide range of challenging hands-on activities that expand their knowledge in areas such as food production, horticulture and sustainability, while connecting them to the natural environment. Students are immersed in rich learning experiences that support and enhance the curriculum at Maddingley and Woodlea.

Kimone Stacey-Missen – Educational Programs Coordinator: Staughton Vale