On a perfect autumn afternoon on New Brighton beach, when most people are walking their dogs or having a surf, the volunteers from New Brighton Dunecare are working to plant trees that will help stabilise the dunes.
Plants need a bit of help to establish when they are in such a harsh environment so windbreaks are being erected to protect them. These windbreaks will be a trial to see if it increases the survival rate of planted trees.
Robyn Bolden from the Dunecare group says ‘Our goal is to plant 1,000 trees between Riversea Lane and Pacific Street beach accesses. About half the trees will be planted on the fore dune, where we will be relying on windbreaks for protection. Once the trees are established the windbreaks will be removed’.
New Brighton Dunecare recently received a grant from the Department of the Environment’s 20 Million Trees program.
It’s a federal government initiative to plant 20 million trees by 2020, to help to re-establish green corridors and urban forests all over Australia.
If you would like to get involved the Dunecare group has a working bee on the first Friday of every month from 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm. Meet at the end of the Esplanade – about 50 metres south of the Strand Intersection. For more information please contact Robyn on [email protected]
