NEWS

Seedlings donated to stabilise Cottesloe coastline and build habitat

By Pamela Jolly 8 June 2023

Cottesloe Coastcare will join with community volunteers on Sunday 11 June at a site in South Cottesloe to plant spinifex and salt tolerant indigenous shrubs into the dunes to create cover and stabilise sand movement.

The group manage the natural areas within Cottesloe, including the coastal dunes that stretch along the length of the suburb. This National Tree Day, they will be planting 1,000 seedlings that will revegetate vulnerable sandhills with local indigenous plants and build habitat for wildlife in the area.

“The sand dunes in south Cottesloe have been partially restored but are very vulnerable to rising sea levels due to climate change,” said site coordinator, Valdene Diprose, Cottesloe Coastcare.

These nature care efforts are being supported by a grant from Planet Ark’s Seedling bank program in the lead up to the organisation’s National Tree Day campaign. The program launched in 2019 with the goal of supplying native seedlings to schools and community groups participating in National Tree Day activities across the country.

“The Seedling Bank is our way of giving back to the thousands of Australian volunteers who roll up their sleeves each year to give something back to the environment as part of National Tree Day,” said Rebecca Gilling, Planet Ark CEO.

“We have already directly supported over 132 groups in their efforts to plant almost 80,000 native trees, shrubs and grasses since the program’s inception.”

Through Planet Ark’s sustained support of Cottesloe Coastcare, the community group has maintained the sand dunes creating a more stable coastline better equipped to manage the damaging impact of erosion. The 2023 plantings will build a green connection between the children’s nature play space and nearby osprey nest that the group hopes will attract visitors during breeding seasons.

“This grant enabled us to order a further 1000 spinifex plants that will be planted to stabilise the primary sand dunes in key locations along the length of Cottesloe,” said Valdene. “As a community organisation we rely on grants and donations to help pay for the seedlings we plant annually.”

With limited vehicle access to the site, organisers are hoping lots of volunteers will join them with their families to get involved, plant and connect with nature.

Schools Tree Day (July 28) and National Tree Day (July 30) are Australia’s largest annual tree-planting and nature care events, with plantings taking place across the country on the last weekend of July.