ONEFORTYONE (OFO) and Tenison Woods College (TWC) have joined forces to take part in this year’s National Schools Tree Day.
Students from year levels across the college will attend a planting session taking place tomorrow.
Through this experience and others planned for the future, OFO and TWC are eager to the share the rich and important history of forestry within the Green Triangle and the importance of a sustainable future within our region.
While Planet Ark’s National Trees Day on July 29 focuses on planting local native plants, not pine trees, the students will use the day as an opportunity to learn about the many benefits of sustainable forestry for the Green Triangle region.
TWC sustainability coordinator Tom Linnell and OFO estate manager Andrew Matheson have conceptualised a first for both organisations in the experience, engaging young people with forestry in a deliberate hands-on practical way.
Toyota, a major sponsor of National Schools Trees Day, through local dealership Noel Barr Toyota, will continue to support the college for the planting day through providing colourful t-shirts and gardening gloves, as well as a presence on the day.
“Our local team is passionate about what they do and have worked in these Green Triangle forests for decades,” Mr Matheson said.
“Pretty quickly the idea was put forward about using this as an opportunity to share our love and passion of sustainable forestry with local kids.”
OFO’s sustainability credentials are certified every year by independent forestry experts, ensuring its forests are conserved and managed responsibly to deliver social, economic and environmental benefits now and for future generations.
While OFO protects over 3000 hectares of native forest patches within its commercial pine estate, the team wanted to teach the children the Green Triangle forests not only protect the environment, but also store carbon, provide local jobs and are a great place to find a ghost mushroom and reconnect with nature.
“Sustainable forestry has been the backbone of this region for 100 years and we want to help inspire the next generation of local children to feel the same passion about this industry as we do, keeping it sustainable for the next 100 years,” Mr Matheson said.
“It would be great to think that one of the young kids out there planting today will now start thinking about a local career in forestry and maybe even one day become the chief executive of OneFortyOne Plantations.”
Mr Linnell said an innovative curriculum at the college focused on alternate learning experiences within the community, linking sustainability to the many varied industries within our region.
“We have recently begun developing a curriculum package, GreenSTEM, aimed at student-driven, problem-based projects integrating STEM subjects from a sustainable viewpoint,”
he said.
