Students from Tharwa Primary School plant out in the grounds of Birrigai Outdoor School the first plants propagated in Lanyon High School’s new greenhouse.

Schools help Canberra to re-seed

By Kerri Carr

Federation's $1000 grant to Lanyon High School in the ACT is assisting in the replanting of lands around Birrigai Outdoor School which was severely damaged in the January bushfires.

Funding from Federation and other sources enabled an already proposed glasshouse to be built promptly so it could begin its role in propagating seeds.

Lanyon High School deputy principal Glenys Patulny said that when the fires ravaged Canberra, the glasshouse became a priority.

Thanking Federation, principal Michael Hall said: "This grant will assist greatly with the re-establishment of the vegetation of the Birrigai site and environs."

The first vegetation propagated from the glasshouse was planted at Birrigai Outdoor School during the first week the school was reopened, at the beginning of term 4.

Ms Patulny said that all along it was the school's intention to involve feeder primary schools in regeneration projects, but this will have to wait until more seed is available.

"We are licensed to be a seed collector, but we've had trouble getting local seeds because a lot of the local seeds were burned out.

"Feeder primary schools will help once we get enough seeds."

In the long run, propagated seed from the glasshouse will be used to revegetate the banks of the Murrumbidgee River.

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