Seeding the future

The Ludlow Tuart Forest Restoration Group has received $20,000 from the Federal Government to continue its environmental work.

The group began re-vegetating the forest with native tuart trees two years ago and plans to replant a further 100,000 seedlings over a five-year restoration planting program.

The Member for Forrest, Nola Marino, announced the funding, which comes as part of the Federal Governments $22 million Communities Environment Program, on Monday.

“This program is all about harnessing the passion of grassroots community organisations to deliver practical local projects that directly improve our local environment,” Mrs Marino said.

“This project will protect and improve our local environment by re-vegetating degraded sections of the tuart forest surrounding the Ludlow Forest settlement by planting Tuart trees and associated understory plants to encourage the return of native wildlife and provide for tourism, education, recreation and conservation.”

Busselton and Dunsborough Community Bank branches of the Bendigo Bank have also supported the replanting process by sponsoring 500 Tuart tree seedlings.

Ludlow Tuart Forest Restoration Group vice chair, Des Donnelly said the grant and support from local groups would help them join two forest areas and restore the environment to its original state. “Sponsoring the Tuart tree seedlings, for $10 each, provides an avenue to interested community members and businesses to contribute to forest and heritage restoration,” he said.

Recently more than 400 students from Busselton Senior High School helped the group during a replanting excursion.

“For a large number of participating schoolchildren it initiates and helps develop an interest and ownership in this environment. After all they are the future custodians of this forest and they deserve involvement.”

This project includes the restoration of the heritage-registered Ludlow Forest settlement and infrastructure and will include Aboriginal connection to this country over thousands of years.