Trees, Trails and Kangaroos

With a temperature of just one-degree Celsius providing a cold winter’s morning start, volunteer members of the Friends of the Bendigo-Kilmore Rail Trail community group came together for a working bee at the O’Keefe Rail Trail in Heathcote.

The work location was at Pink Cliffs Rd, where a previous working bee had relocated a gate and fence from a nearby location along the trail. The work plan was to plant tube stock trees that would both enhance the surrounding natural landscape in the future, as well as provide an extended barrier to the installed fence. Having plenty to do, the group were soon organised and most quickly forgot about the cold temperature conditions! To help the future success of the planting, metal mesh tree guards were assembled in the hope of these discouraging the plentiful numbers of local kangaroos from trying to eat the new plants.

The success of the day’s efforts saw about 45 trees being planted, mulched, and staked guards erected, all with the assistance of planning by council’s Park and Natural Reserves staff. While reflecting on the success of day’s outcomes, those involved later shared their rail trail experiences and proposed future O’Keefe Rail Trail extension plans over coffees at the local bakery.