School students sustaining The Dell

A hundred Clifton Springs Primary School students will celebrate the natural and cultural history of The Dell at Clifton Springs at an Environment Day on Friday October 16.

The students will join teachers, parents and local community groups in an ongoing project to protect and improve the area and hands-on activities will introduce them to its plants, animals and history.

The Dell Environment Day will also celebrate the launch of a new and innovative booklet about the area - Clifton Springs and Curlewis Coastal Reserves: flora, fauna and heritage.

Four years’ work

The 2015 Environment Day is the culmination of four years’ work by local community groups, environmental groups and schools to protect and enhance the indigenous vegetation of The Dell, Beacon Point and the Clifton Springs foreshore.

The four year project has included:

·      involving the local community - especially primary school students – in protecting and enhancing the area by informing them about its environmental and cultural/historical importance

·      clearing invasive weeds and woody plants

·      revegetating the area with indigenous plants that are local to the area and not found elsewhere on the Bellarine Peninsula

·      creating a plan to protect and enhance the area’s indigenous vegetation.

The Dell Environment Day is organised by the Drysdale and Clifton Springs Community Association and the Bellarine Catchment Network, supported by the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, Bellarine Landcare Group and the City of Greater Geelong.

The Federal Government’s Caring For Our Country Community Grants programme has funded The Dell Environment Day and the associated revegetation of the area.

The organisers of The Dell Environment Day are pleased to acknowledge the Wadawurung people, the traditional custodians of the Land that includes The Dell, pay respect to the past and present Elders of the Wadawurung nation and extend that respect to other Indigenous Australians who are present.

MORE INFORMATION:

Matt Crawley, Bellarine Catchment Network: 0417 231 853

Doug Carson, Drysdale and Clifton Springs Community Association: 0418 371 308