The Grow West team will put their green thumbs to work later this month to give a farm some much-needed tender loving care – and your help is needed.
The group will head to a 105-hectare property at Rowsley, close to the Werribee Gorge State Park, to plant 5000 native seedlings that will restore non-arable areas of the farm.
Owners John and Tristia Lakey bought the property in 2012 and, with the help of Grow West and Melbourne Water, have already planted more than 25,000 trees along its waterways, creating a series of strategic wind breaks.
“Rabbits and weeds are the biggest battle we have on the farm,” Mr Lakey said. “We started tackling these issues on a whole-farm scale and soon realised that a neighbourhood approach was required.”
Grow West was launched by the Department of Primary Industries in 2003 to rehabilitate 10,000 hectares of the upper Werribee catchment. It will dedicate its 10th annual community planting day to the Lakeys’ farm.
The group is now run by the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority, in partnership with state government and Landcare groups.
More than one million trees have been planted across private properties around the Brisbane Ranges National Park, Werribee Gorge State Park and the Lerderderg State Park.
Grow West will hold its 10th community planting day on Sunday, July 19, from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Registrations close July 13.
Details: www.growwest.com.au
