Hudson Herbert, Education Assistant Elisha Herbert and Madeleine Bennett. Students from Aveley Primary School travelled to Yarloop to plant trees in the fire devastated town.
Camera IconHudson Herbert, Education Assistant Elisha Herbert and Madeleine Bennett. Students from Aveley Primary School travelled to Yarloop to plant trees in the fire devastated town. Credit: Supplied/David Baylis d471021

Aveley PS students plant seedlings in Yarloop as part of Grand Marri Plant Out

Lisa ThomasThe Advocate

AVELEY Primary School students are trying to reduce their carbon footprint and improve flora and fauna by planting trees in Yarloop after the devastating bushfire in January last year.

The Grand Marri Plant Out, which aims to plant 20,000 seedlings, has been undertaken by nine schools in Perth as a way to counteract their carbon emissions.

Year 4 and 5 classes from the school travelled to Yarloop this week to plant the seedlings.

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Aveley Primary School Year 4 and 5 teacher Sharon Hewitt said the seedlings were purchased with a grant from the State Government’s State Natural Resource Management Program.

She said program was educational, helped the environment and also taught students the importance of volunteer work.

“Yarloop was chosen because of the bushfires. A lot of animals were displaced after the bushland was burnt out and a lot of them lost their food source,” she said.

“The animals are slowly starting to come back as the vegetation is starting to regrow, but we want to help encourage more animals back and improve the vegetation.

“We planted mostly marri trees, native shrubs and some die back resistant jarrah trees.”

The students also spent an hour in the unburnt bush with local Noongar Elders learning about Aboriginal history and culture.

“The students got to learn about how the native trees and shrubs could be used for medicine,” she said.

“They loved the whole experience.”

Ms Hewitt said the school would continue to take part in the program.

“At the end of the Yarloop project we would have completed the 20,000 seedlings,” she said

“We’re planning on planting trees at the Roe 8 site next and also in the Wheatbelt, where there are salinity problems.”

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