An  environmental  project  inspired  by the  children of Baldivis  Primary School
 

 

Baldivis Children's Forest

Conservation Through Education
 

Managed  by local  children
in partnership with  the 
City  of Rockingham
and  the  Local Community

Home Up

Project History

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 Baldivis Children's Forest

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:

2010

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Our major sponsor for the fifth consecutive year was BHP Billiton Nickel West. It is anticipated that BHP will fund the Forest project in 2011 as per an MOU between BCF Inc and BHP.

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The City of Rockingham continued to be a strong supporter of the BCF project and this year the partnership was formalized through the signing of a Management License in May 2010.

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Winner of the 2010 National Landcare Awards: Westpac Education Award in partnership with Baldivis Primary School.

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Winner of the 2010/11 Schools First Award in partnership with Baldivis Primary School.

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This year, activity days were held from May to December with a total of 1115 students from fifteen schools, 112 teachers and 100 parents / volunteers participating.

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This year signified our eleventh year of planting and 4318 native seedlings were planted in the degraded tuart woodlands and wetlands areas during May–September. With the driest winter on record for 2010 and an extended 2009/10 summer period (>200 days without rainfall), the survival of planted seedlings was challenging. As a result we achieved a sound 69.7% survival rate of the seedlings planted in 2009.  

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This year the Forest in partnership with Baldivis Primary School and Firestarter hosted a Kids Teaching Kids Conference in September at the Forest. Six schools participated involving 202 delegates. All schools presented to their peers.

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This year the Community Volunteer Program at the Forest had a record 527 students and 104 adults from eight schools/groups collectively contribute 1193 volunteer hours during 44 visits to the Forest.

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Fourteen community events sponsored by BHP Billiton NiW involving 953 participants/ audience were held during 2010. These included guided night stalks (one a Halloween event); a ‘Music in the Forest’ concert, a dinosaur dig and fossil focus, guided bird walks, birds and wetlands and plant survey.
 

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The City of Rockingham Green Jobs Team commenced a six-month training program at the forest.  Their time at the Forest has been spent  constructing new walk trails, treating trees with nutrient implants to combat tree decline, constructing irrigation for newly planted seedlings and 2011 plantings, weeding, collecting seed and constructing fauna nest boxes.
 

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A joint project commenced with the Wildflower Society of Western Australia to produce a herbarium for the forest.  This project involved students from Baldivis Primary School and volunteers from WSWA.

 

2009

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Major corporate sponsorship from BHP Billiton Nickel West was increased and the forest was able to employ our project officer’s hours for 23 hours/week and our administration officer for 8 hours/week, plus a budget for website maintenance.

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School activity days involved 1425 children from 17 schools with a record number of seedlings planted.  Overall 4387 seedlings were planted during 2009.

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Sound management of the rehabilitation areas resulted in a record 90% survival rate after 12 months of seedlings planted during 2008.

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Voluntary Community Service Program established at the forest with 301 students and 50 adults from nine school/groups collectively contributed 1027 volunteer hours during 24 visits to the forest.

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Winner at the Inaugural Celebrating Rockingham 2009 Awards in Environmental Sustainability.

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WA State Landcare Awards 2009: Winner Westpac Education Award in partnership with Baldivis Primary School.

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Winner of the Landcare Australia Ltd Western Australian People's Choice Award in partnership with Baldivis Primary School.

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Forest represented at the International River Health Conference held in Canberra.

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Community events during 2009 were sponsored by Synergy and BHP Billiton Nickel West, with a range of events offered; this included Nightstalks, GPS Treasure Hunts, guided bird walks, bush survival workshops, reptile encounter workshop, solar boat race and our inaugural Music in the Forest afternoon.  1421 community members participated in these community events.

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:

         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.

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:

             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.

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

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%.

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.

2003

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Tranby College students joined Baldivis PS for weeding activities

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)

2000

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First planting of native seedlings at reserve 30269

 

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.”

 

 


 

Email comments or queries about this Website  to the  Project Officer
Copyright:  2008 © Baldivis Children's Forest Inc.
ABN: 89 465 657 145
1399 Mandurah Road, Baldivis, Western Australia 6171
 Postal Address: C/-Baldivis Primary School, Baldivis, Western  Australia 6171
  This site was last updated by BCF Management Committee Wednesday
25th January 2012