Planting forests is a core activity of Beechmont Landcare. A few months ago I wrote about the forest that was planted at Akoonah Timbarra reserve over 30 years ago.
Our organisation was formed in 1992 but the rainforest that was recently vandalised at the Old School was a project that happened over a decade before.
In 1984 the then Principal of Beechmont State School, David Murphy, saw an opportunity to convert the old horse paddock next to the school into a rainforest.
School children no longer rode horses to school and there was no longer a need for the paddock. It had become overgrown and a dumping ground for wire, concrete and other rubbish
Money was short and there was a bit of wheeling and dealing with the then Queensland Works Department to clear the paddock. The community then rallied together to donate and plant the trees. There were many problems to overcome. To stop hares eating the plantings, left over foil from producing milk bottle tops was used as tree guards. Old newspapers held down with rocks stopped the grass.
Planting didn’t happen all at once but over a number of years. One planting involved past pupils and it was accompanied by a special function.
Many people in the Beechmont community were involved in this project and they were upset by the vandalism.
This was a project that provided a community focus for over a decade. It is emblematic of the what the Beechmont community holds dear, savouring and nurturing our spectacular natural environment.
