Digging in and growing together

Park maintenance officer Erland Cazeneuve with bushland maintenance officer Simonette Charles on National Tree Day. 142108 Picture: ROB CAREW

By GEORGIA WESTGARTH

ALONG with the rest of Australia, Dandenong took to Tatterson Park and Fotheringham Reserve for a whole lot of planting.
A part of Planet Ark’s National Tree Day, the City of Greater Dandenong and fellow gardeners marked the campaign’s 20-year anniversary by planting flowering goodenia and basket grass in Dandenong on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July.
This year’s theme “You Can Grow So Much” focused on the wealth of opportunities that nature can bring to people’s lives and mayor Sean O’Reilly said the day was about planting seedlings and being a part of the plan to green our parks and reserves, support local wildlife and beautify our city.
“Planting days are a great way to experience nature and meet other like-minded people within your community,” Cr O’Reilly said.
Participants brought along a pair of their own gardening gloves and a hand trowel and got their hands dirty for a green cause.
Green thumbs were also treated to a nature walk after their hard work and a barbecue lunch.
Alex Moodie from the council’s bushland management team said 600 indigenous grasses, sedges, rushes and shrubs were planted at Tatterson Park and 1102 at Fotheringham Reserve.
“It was a very successful weekend and it’s always great to get the community involved in improving habitat values of the two sites and reintroducing homes and foods for the local fauna,” Ms Moodie said.