JOIN volunteers and Mornington Peninsula Shire Council representatives at The Briars, Mount Martha on Sunday (30 July) for the annual National Tree Day planting.
This year trees will be planted in the expanded sanctuary area in preparation for the reintroduction of locally extinct species.
The Ark Program at The Briars aims to bring locally endangered and extinct species back to the peninsula.
To return species to the site, the council’s conservation team has eradicated rabbits and foxes and is working with recovery groups across Victoria to confirm which species will be included.
The mayor Cr Steve Holland said the return of locally extinct and endangered species was part of a state-wide recovery effort which was aiming to increase the genetic diversity of the species in the wild to help them survive into the future.
“It’s exciting to be able to bring back these species and encourage planting to improve tree canopy coverage in our community,” he said.
Cr Anthony Marsh said the council had previously planted 500 Mount Martha bundies, a critically endangered eucalypt. Only 400 trees were believed to still exist in Mount Martha at the time.
“The project, a collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens and Chisholm TAFE, saw the number of wild plants doubled – an amazing result,” he said.
Register for the tree planting day at: treeday.planetark.org/site/10028441
