General News
6 September, 2025
Wintery Minyip tree planting success
Despite the weather requiring suitable clothing as a buffer against the elements, about 20 people turned up at a community tree-planting day near Minyip recently, dubbed the 'Yarrilinks Plant Out'.
Held on Sunday, August 17, the participants planted about 3000 native indigenous plants on a 7.5-hectare private land as part of National Tree Day; Yarrilink Landcare facilitator, Marney Durie, said it was great to have a return of interest in events after "the COVID years".
"It used to be quite a big event where you'd get 200 people attend," she said.
"Then in that (COVID) period, we lost traction. Over the last couple of years, we're just trying to get that back up as a community event."
Since the 1980s, Australian Landcare has supported environmental management and sustainable land-use practices, facilitating collaboration between landowners, farmers, community groups, and government bodies to address issues such as soil degradation, water quality, biodiversity loss, and habitat restoration.
Ms Durie said the Landcare committee had organised the planting day after a private landholder had opened up an area for them.
"What she's essentially done is she's turned an old paddock or a sheep yard into what will be a bush block," she said.
Starting at 9am, those who braved the cold and occasional rain showers turned up to dig into the soft, muddy ground to plant different varieties, including Mallee and Box Eucalyptus trees, Acacia such as Gold Dust Wattle, Golden Wattle, and Willow Wattle, alongside Buloke trees, Saltbush, Eutaxia, Hopbush, Pittosporum, Cassia and Sweet Bursaria.
"We finished at 4pm – we had a morning tea and a barbecue lunch and a campfire, all those sorts of things," Ms Durie said.
Events like this must be planned well in advance to secure funding and then source the trees, which in this case come from nurseries near Bendigo and Hamilton.
"In September last year, we ordered those trees and they've been growing them for us since then," Ms Durie said.
"It's hoped for next year that we'll put in another two or 3000."
She encouraged the community to get involved.
"Landcare is a great community, and it's just people," Ms Durie said.
"In these projects, it can be hard work, but people find purpose.
"It's about connecting to other people, just as much as it's about connecting to the landscape or environment.
"It's really good for the community."
Yarrilinks Landcare and details about upcoming events can be found at www.yarrilinks.org.au.