Planting sustains dune habitat

Fifty students from Australind Senior High School planted seedlings at Myalup beach last month in an effort to help rehabilitate the fragile environment.

The process began in December last year when the seeds of 20 native species were planted and cared for by the science students, particularly those who love biology.

Year 8 students Tylissa Moss and Sophie Docker enjoyed getting messy measuring the plants’ progress throughout the eight-month process.

Tylissa said the purpose of the project was to help strengthen and rebuild the habitat of Siberian migratory birds.

“We need to protect the sand dunes and help the birds that use them,” she said.

“It’s about growing their environment so the dunes don’t blow away.”

Science teacher Greg Lancaster said this was the second year the school had participated in the HotRocks Seed2Tree program, which last year took them to the Goldfields.

He said the program complemented the school’s own sustainablity curriculum and nature garden.

“Sustainability affects everything and the program has taught the students to think on a broader scale,” he said.

“We planted 4000 seedlings and I hope to be able to go back with the students to see the progress next year.”

There are 11 schools involved in WA, including Manea Senior College and Bunbury Catholic College which each planted 4000 seedlings in Boyup Brook last week.