After lending a hand at Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse last month, Augusta Primary School students picked up their spades on home ground and turned a one-off idea into a budding Schools Tree Day tradition.Â
This week, they kept the momentum going, leading the charge as every class took part in a planting session beside the school — an area the Year 6s have been hand-weeding through Nature Conservation’s Our Patch program.Â
Working alongside the Capes Foundation and Nature Conservation teams, students revegetated the bushland with a mix of local species. The Year 6s mentored the kindergarten children, helping dig holes, tap seedlings from pots and fit protective guards. Between bursts of sunshine and light showers, students also created insect habitats from rocks and sticks. Heavier rain held off until the last plants were in, and a burst of sun closed the morning.Â
We were blown away by how much the younger students knew. Many carefully chose spots with light and space for each plant. This began as a one-off activity, but the enthusiasm from the students and teachers means we’re already planning for next year. We’ll now begin raising local acacia seedlings for the students’ native bee habitat studies in 2026.
~ Alysha Johnson, Capes Foundation Conservation Manager
The students will continue caring for the new plantings, helping to control weeds and create future habitat. Beyond the ecological benefits, the project is fostering environmental stewardship, hands-on learning and intergenerational community engagement.
