The Shire of Mt Marshall and the Mt Marshall Natural Resource Management Committee, together with support from Lotterywest and Westpac, have built a community nursery in Bencubbin. Located behind the Shire Office, the nursery is capable of growing 60,000 seedlings per year and will have a strong involvement of community members and local schoolchildren.
Located in the north eastern wheatbelt of Western Australia, Mt Marshall covers 10,000 square kilometres and has a population of 650 people. The nursery aims to provide educational experiences for residents through the growing of seedlings. Seedlings grown will then be planted around the towns of Bencubbin and Beacon for town greenery and will also be used by Council for land rehabilitation.
“The nursery provides an excellent opportunity to educate the community about horticulture and the landcare and biodiversity benefits of revegetation,” said Mt Marshall’s Landcare Technical Officer, Kevin Trustum.
Comprising a 12 metre by 24 metre shade house dome and a double garage that acts as a classroom, the nursery forms part of the Shire’s Environmental Protection Program. It will be planted out for the first time in December this year.
Lotterywest funding assisted with the purchase of the double garage, soil and seedling trays, as well as power and water connection. The Westpac Operation Backyard Grant assisted with the purchase of the nursery dome. It was officially opened on 5 July, following a community tree planting morning.
For further information contact Kevin Trustum on (08) 9685 1202.
