Tree Planting at Fort Street

Thank you so much to everyone who helped with tree planting on Thursday August 11. The Environment Group, with the Amnesty Group and a lot of our friends, planted about 70 native trees, which was a fantastic achievement. The new trees are mostly on the perimeter of the school. These and future plantings build on the work of many generations of Fortians who made this school the oasis that it is in our urban environment. Our school is a wildlife refuge and corridor, and the trees planted yesterday will create a cooler microclimate as well as serving to increase local biodiversity and providing a much-needed carbon sink.

It’s not possible to list all the people who helped – it was a community effort, with assistance from people right across the school; from Year 7s and 8s in the Vocal Ensemble who collected and tagged sticks, to Year 12s on study breaks and Year 11 volleyballers who moved trees and equipment, to Year 9 students who watered the tubestock plants each day, to the teachers who rolled up their sleeves and planted, or put up with people turning up late and eating in class, to the executive and admin staff who checked where we could plant, to the P&C and local council for the grant to buy plants. Particular thanks go to Ms Woodley for supplying the seedlings, and to Ms Mattick for the delivery of the larger trees.

If you would like to help with future plantings as well as online work to ensure the protection of nature, please join the Environment Group in the grounds or in the Flexible Learning Space every Thursday Week B at lunchtime. There’ll be a note on the door and a message on Google Classroom to say where we’re meeting (code woynyyf) each fortnight.