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Project History
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Baldivis Children’s Forest Inc. (BCF)
How
Reserve 30269 became Baldivis Children’s Forest
The Baldivis District is undergoing rapid transformation from a rural to
urban community. Roads have been/are being constructed; the Kwinana freeway
to Baldivis opened in 2001; native vegetation cleared; and houses, schools
and shops erupt into an urban landscape – Baldivis the
fastest
growing area nationally in 2005/06. These changes provided the impetus to
students and staff at Baldivis Primary School to try and preserve some
of Baldivis’ natural heritage.
In 2000 Baldivis Primary School was commissioned by Taylor-Woodrow (later Stockland) in
partnership with the City of
Rockingham (CoR) to develop a “Tree Walk” linking 35 historically
significant trees in Settlers Hills and Woodleigh Grove estates.
The
same year,
Green
Skills approached the CoR to do on-ground restoration projects in
Rockingham/Kwinana, and identified Reserve 30269 as a suitable site. Green
Skills secured funding from Alcoa’s ‘Rivers, Wetlands and Habitats program’
to undertake what would be the beginning of on-going restoration activities
at the reserve. Green Skills approached Baldivis Primary School to see whether they
would like to become involved, and so planting began at the reserve, later
named the Baldivis Children’s Forest.
Conservation through Education grows at BCF
Since its
beginning in 2000 the Baldivis Children's Forest project has expanded from annual planting days to
now include a school and community education program focusing on
environmental conservation, science, the Arts and Aboriginal culture.
Partnerships with community, industry and other organizations have also
expanded dramatically. Major achievements include:
2000
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First planting of native seedlings at reserve 30269
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2001
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Formation of Baldivis Children’s Forest Steering Committee
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Baldivis Children's Forest registered as a CALM
Land
for Wildlife
property (#
869)
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2003
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Tranby
College students joined Baldivis PS for weeding activities
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2004
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School activity days involved two schools. Activities included: planting
1141 seedlings, bird watching, insect studies, Nyoongar culture, fire
safety, bush tucker garden, and infrastructure designs.
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Baldivis
Children’s Forest Management Plan 2005-2010;
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Community workshops on infrastructure planning, wetland macro-invertebrates
and fauna.
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2005
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Vested purpose
amended from
‘Parklands’ to ‘Education, Wetland, Conservation and Communication’;
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City of Rockingham (CoR) commenced capital works – installation of limestone
tracks, fencing, water tank, electricity, outdoor classroom.
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School activity days continued and 2790 seedlings were planted. Seedling
survival increased to 46.5%.
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2006
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Corporate sponsors and grant funding was used to employ a project officer (2
days per week) to coordinate the project.
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School activity days continued and involved 630 children from five schools.
A total of 2790 seedlings were planted and seedling survival increased to
72%.
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CoR capital works – toilets and outdoor amphitheatre was built.
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Aboriginal project created a Nyoongar bush tucker trail with informative
signage, painted totems, welcome sign, mosaics and tiles;
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Installation of six possum and four black cockatoo nest boxes.
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Partnered with ‘Disability in the Arts–Disadvantage in the Arts WA’ (DADAA)
in term 4 to create sculptures in the forest involving school children and
people with intellectual disability.
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Website was launched in June 2006
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2007
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An increase in corporate sponsorship was used to increase the project
officer’s hours to 20 hours/week and appoint an administration officer for 6
hours/week.
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Two large fenced rehabilitation areas were created for future
planting. Irrigation was installed and weed control was increased.
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School activity days involved 900 children from 12 schools over ten days. A
total of 2877 seedlings were planted.
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Another series of art workshops were held in term 2 partnered with DADAA.
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A series of community workshops was launched and included:
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Educators workshop (May) involving 14 educators from four schools;
Community afternoon (May) in which 115 attendees ate bush tucker,
listened to an Aboriginal cultural talk and went on a guided walk;
Reconciliation event (August) involving Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals from
six schools and the wider community celebrating with song, dance, food,
story-telling, painting boomerangs and building a mia mia;
Community afternoon (September) in which 70 attendees enjoyed a sausage
sizzle, went orienteering, created clay creatures in the trees and made
‘froggy’ crafts.
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The BCF Steering Committee was formalized and a constitution was written and
became incorporated as ‘Baldivis Children’s Forest Incorporated’.
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The CoR capital works program saw the completion of the outdoor
amphitheatre, installation of a BBQ, artworks and landscaping around the
outdoor classroom.
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The creation and installation of bat boxes during November.
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2008
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With continuing
corporate sponsorship was able to continue to employ our project officer’s
hours for 20 hours/week and our administration officer for 6 hours/week.
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Irrigation was installed and weed control was increased. The
City of Rockingham & Mission Australia Green Corps (team of 10) installed
drippers during March ready for the 2008 planting.
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School activity days involved 1252 children from 16 schools over twenty days. A
total of 3466 seedlings were planted with
a record 85.5%
survival rate of the seedlings planted in 2007.
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Another series of art workshops were held in term 3 over 12 consecutive
weekends partnering with DADAA to make a large sea eagle sculpture from
natural materials.
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Continuation of our partnership with local Aboriginal students as part of
the Parents Schools Partnership Initiative (PSPI) program via East Waikiki
Primary School. As part of this
program the mia was re-built and Aboriginal culture signage has been
developed with the students.
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The success of the rehabilitation program at BCF was recognised when the BCF
project was one of four finalists in the 2008 WA Landcare Awards in April
(Alcoa Community Landcare Group Award).
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2008 State Sustainable Cities Award winner - Biodiversity Management; and
Heritage and Culture. This gives recognition to the revegetation and fauna
conservation programs; and the Aboriginal cultural programs at BCF.
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WA
Youth Environment Conference held in September.The BCF in partnership with
Baldivis Primary School presented two workshops to delegates on day 1.
The forest became one of three venues chosen for a project activity day on
day two of the Conference. Approximately 120 participants enjoyed four
activities.
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Department
of Indigenous Affairs PALS (Partnership Acceptance Learning Sharing). 'Koondarm
Biddi Koorliny' (Dream Trail Walking) kootadjinong (see and understand)
project.
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Community events
included:
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The ‘Sustainability Quest’ partnered with Millennium Kids and BHP held in
June. This event attracted a total of 120 people from Millennium Kids,
Baldivis Primary, BHP employees and BCF Inc.
Community night stalks were held each term, to view nocturnal animals of
the forest.
Community guided bird walk with Birds Australia.
Children’s perspectives….
“I
feel good when I plant heaps of trees. I feel like I’ve done the best thing
in the world.”
“I
hope the trees we plant will be tall and healthy. I also hope that the
Forest will still be there in years to come in memory of us.”
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