THE extension of the Great Southern Rail Trail, from Leongatha to Nyora, has been universally hailed as a huge success and that’s without factoring in the opportunity for Landcare to develop biolinks along the way.
And that’s exactly what members of the Loch-Nyora Landcare Group were doing out on the Jeetho section of the trail last Sunday, with more than a little bit of help from their friends, adding to work started in June last year.
“We’ve had a pretty good day here,” said Loch-Nyora Landcare Group President Malcolm Brown.
“We’ve had about 30 people here today, planting 1500 native plants, and enjoyed a nice lunch together afterwards.”
It certainly helped that the weather was ideal for a planting day, and the ground ready for garden augers and other tools.
“The rail trails are a key location for Landcare groups,” said Landcare facilitator for the western section of South Gippsland, Jane McKenzie-Smith, who together with her eastern section colleague, Nick Stephens, was there to support the local Loch-Nyora group.
“I’ve got eight Landcare groups in my area and most of them are planning or involved in rail trail planting projects.
“It’s an opportunity to create biolinks and extend wildlife corridors with these areas managed by the shires and offering access for planting and maintenance.”
Several other local Landcare groups turned out to support the effort which was also supported by the South Gippsland Shire Council and two groups supplying the trees and shrubs, TreeX Tree Service in Leongatha and Leongatha Seed Bank.
