More trees for Joondalup schools

02 August 2023

Friday 28 July 2023 was National Schools Tree Day
MP supports local Joondalup primary schools with tree planting

Every year, Emily Hamilton, Member for Joondalup, donates trees to primary schools in the Joondalup electorate as part of National Schools Tree Day.

This year, the year 6 student leaders of Connolly Primary School, and Edgewater Primary School’s year 6 Sustainability Team each planted a new WA native red flowering gum tree at their school. By planting a tree on the school grounds, students are educated about the importance of trees for the environment and our community.

Poseidon Primary School’s Sustainability Team helped to plant a lime tree on their school grounds. This lime tree will be the first of many fruit trees being planted, as the school begins to grow their very own orchard.

Last year, Poseidon Primary School planted a Miyawaki forest (also known as a pocket or tiny forest). This project is helping students learn about climate change and urban biodiversity.

Edgewater Primary School began a revegetation project on school grounds in 2021. Over 800 native plants were planted, with the aim of improving the mental health and well-being of the school community.

This September marks the second anniversary of the announcement by the Western Australian Labor Government that the State's native forests will be protected from logging as of 2024.

The Forest Management Plan 2024-33 decision to end logging of native forests will preserve at least an additional 400,000 hectares of karri, jarrah and wandoo forests.

Comments attributed to Emily Hamilton, Member for Joondalup:

“These initiatives at our local schools – building orchards, vegetable, and bush tucker gardens – provide wholistic learning opportunities.

“Planting large trees or mini forests on school grounds benefits our environment by increasing urban vegetation cover, providing habitat for local fauna, and creating shade and lower ambient temperatures.

“When I visit local schools, it’s wonderful to see the growth of trees planted in previous years."