On Sunday, July 28, nestled between Mullet Creek and the backdrop of the escarpment at Don’s Farm Avondale, Dharawal land, an enthusiastic crowd gathered to celebrate National Tree Day. It was a joint effort by Dapto Rotary, Bohmer’s Tree Care and Bush Magic Adventure Therapy. The three organisations are working together with common goals: to make the community strong around our kids and to care for our natural resources.
The result is a new and exciting environmental park that includes native flowering plants to attract bees and birds, some bush tucker trees and eventually will also include native bee hives.
Caring for the newly planted trees will be the job of children from Bush Magic Adventure Therapy, a bush school that uses Don’s Farm as a base for children to practise bush survival skills and work on their social and emotional learning and development.
The day also served as a launch for this new venture. The gathering included children and families who have been benefitting from the bush school and would like to see it expand so others can also benefit from the programs run in nature.
The alliance between Dapto Rotary, Bohmer’s Tree Care and Bush Magic Adventure Therapy is building a strong community to ensure that our kids are supported to develop the skills they need to navigate life, while at the same time looking after the environment that is so important to their wellbeing. Don’s Farm is a great space for kids to learn about nature and themselves in very practical ways.
Bohmer’s Tree Care partners with Bush Magic Adventure Therapy to provide funding for children to attend who otherwise would not be able to afford it. Dapto Rotary maintains the space and shares Bush Magic’s vision, working together to ensure the site is safe and accommodating to the children who attend and providing opportunities for the children to learn about and care for the environment.
On the day, children were involved in planting native shrubs in the new garden beds, establishing a new bush tucker area, art and craft activities run by Bohmer’s beautiful Tree Fairies and a nature scavenger hunt. Lunch was cooked by Dapto Rotary in their new BBQ food trailer. Rotary also installed and unveiled two Peace Poles, which were donated to promote peace in the community.
Although it was cold and windy, the weather didn’t seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the kids who were excited to dig holes and learn about how to plant and care for the trees, provided by Bohmer’s Tree Care. One child even turned up with his very own wheelbarrow, shovel and watering can ready to assist with the planting.
National Tree Day began in 1996 and is one of Australia’s largest tree planting and nature care events. At its roots, it is a chance to care for nature and the environment, come together as a community and give something back to the earth.
All three organisations share these values.
National Tree Day is held at the end of July each year. You can find more information at Planet Ark.
For more information about Bush Magic Adventure Therapy, contact Simone on bushmagictherapy@gmail.com