Published on Friday, 19 November 2021 at 7:33:51 AM
City of Greater Geraldton Community Nursery Volunteers’ role in greening the City region has officially branched out from propagating seedlings to include cultivating small trees.
The recent completion of a wind protected compound with its own reticulation system at the Nursery located on Adelaide Street in Waggrakine is making it easier for the dedicated volunteers to raise local provenance trees and shrubs.
The upgraded compound, which is large enough to accommodate 300 plants in 5L pots and 300 plants in 35L bags will help meet the City’s growing demand for mature trees and shrubs that can thrive in our harsh climate.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the idea to grow small trees sprouted from the collaboration between Community Nursey staff, the volunteers and the City’s Parks Team to produce Lone Pine trees for the Leonard T Green Memorial Park.
“Until recently, the volunteers were working within one growing season collecting seeds, propagating them, pricking out small plants, planting them into forestry tubes and growing approximately 30,000 seedlings a year for planting in bushland and coastal reserves,” he said.
“That changed three years ago when the Community Nursery began growing 139 Lone Pines trees from seeds collected from a direct descendent of the solitary pine tree left standing on the Gallipolli peninsula in WW1. Once these trees are large enough, they will be planted at the WW1 memorial located in Mahomets Flats.
“The upgrade has provided a space designed specifically for the ongoing cultivation of seedlings into three year advanced trees which are being grown specifically for the Parks team to use in landscaping projects across the City region. Something that has never been done before now.
“This is a fantastic example of how utilising in house resources is producing tangible results for our City’s future generations.”
If you would like more information on becoming a Community Nursery volunteer call Community Nursery Officer Jeanette Reynolds on 0409 088 975, or visit the City’s website www.cgg.wa.gov.au
Picture Caption: Community Nursery Officer Jeanette Reynolds (from left) is joined by Community Nursery Volunteers Dennis Mills, Doug Lee, Gail Taylor, Veronica Foster and Anna Beyer in the new tree compound where three year advanced trees and shrubs are being grown specifically for the City’s Parks team to use in landscaping projects across the City region.
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