BUSHFIRE HELP
The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife, the charity partner for Australia’s National Parks, has awarded a Bushfire Recovery grant to Hawkesbury Community Nursery. In partnership with the global non-profit organisation One Tree Planted and French beauty brand L’OCCITANE.
The grant is the first stage in the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife’s mission to plant one million trees over the next five years to help replace trees that were lost in the 2019/2020 bushfires.
Currently, the Community Nursery produces around 20,000 to 30,000 native plants endemic to the Hawkesbury region and supplies these to numerous revegetation and restoration projects.
The grant will allow Hawkesbury Community Nursery to increase its production capacity from its current 20,000 to 30,000 native plants to 45,000 native plants annually
Hawkesbury Mayor, Councillor Patrick Conolly welcomed the Bushfire Recovery Nursery saying the grant would benefit not only the Hawkesbury Community Nursery, but the wider community as well.
“This will be instrumental in supporting the recovery of Wollemi National Park and the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, 80% of which was devastated by the 2019/2020 bushfire season.”
“Our local area has experienced first-hand the effects of the bushfires and fortunately, we have a well- developed volunteer program that helps support the regeneration of our local flora and fauna. “
“The grant will make a big difference to regenerating the native habitat for Australian wildlife. This grant will also see us widen our scope beyond the Hawkesbury region to offer even more support as our country regenerates.”
Funding will be allocated to provide levelling and drainage to the expansion area, nursery benches, water supply tanks, a plant trailer and other essentials as required for long-term productivity.
Mr. Ian Darbyshire, Chief Executive Officer for the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife said:
“Hawkesbury Community Nursery will play a significant role in our mission to restore our national ecosystem. Tree planting is essential for the regeneration of our future and plays a vital role in restoring natural habitats, native vegetation and wildlife rehabilitation efforts across Australia.”
