Partly as a result of funding from the Airport Corporation last year Dawson Park Primary School planted 500 sedges at Yongar Reserve (Crumpet Creek) Sultana Rd, High Wycombe. Teacher Mr Richard Joyce said, “survival rates have been low owing to the rapid flow of water washing some downstream outside of the monitoring area and the dry summer killing off some.” Approximately 15% have survived. It is a start however to beat the weeds that were previously choking the area.  

Together with the entire school’s students Mr Joyce’s plant propagation efforts at the Primary School resulted in planting over 1 500 natives throughout Yongar Reserve and 300 at the Reserve behind the Primary School. The Agricultural Dept. site next door to the school has donated a fully reticulated glasshouse and another 350 plants from 2006 are there for planting this year. Survival rates at Yongar are over 60% with some plants up to hip height.  

At Yongar Kalamunda Shire mulching improved the soil’s water retention ability and the maximum effect of a dry summer was avoided. Plants put in behind the Primary School all died. Strong winds shortly after planting, lack of reticulation and accidental mowing by the Shire all conspired to eliminate the effort completely. “The year 1 and 2 classes that planted all of those were rather upset, but understand we need to make the effort over the long term,” said Mr Joyce.

A new fence has been installed to improve security at our shade house area. Funded by the Airport Corporation and a Telstra Community Grant the fence has allowed us to install a second shade house increasing our capacity to over 6000 native seedlings each year. As a result of our ongoing success we have approval from the Shire to revegetate a second reserve, currently an open field, neighbouring Dawson Park PS. “Even with our small army of volunteers this will be a 5 – 10 year project covering a range of outcomes for the children of the school. We really appreciate the confidence in us and support shown by the Shire staff.”  

The school now needs to extend reticulation to the second shade house and the ground area in between to create a permaculture garden. Any community support would be welcome. “Worm farms are beginning to produce fertilizer and the school canteen has said they will purchase any vegies we can grow.”

Owing to interest amongst staff and students (particularly Alexandra Kidd in Year 5) they will create a frog friendly environment later this year in a shaded and well-treed area near the Kindy. 

“Everything we do we do for the children. It is through a wide variety of hands-on experiences that children learn best. That we can benefit the local environment as well is a real bonus for the whole community,” said Mr Joyce.

Growth at Yongar Reserve in the foreground, June 2007

PrePrimary and Year 1 Students planting native seeds