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A recipe for fun

23/2/2022

8 Comments

 
Picture
"At last, a chance to help make Western Port a better place” was the chorus. Photos: Andrew Morrison
By Neil Daly
​

IT WAS Friday December 10, 2021.  Twenty-four Grade 4 children from Bass Valley Primary School and their teachers were strolling along the Queensferry foreshore.  I think it would have pleased the late Tim Ealey OAM, affectionately known as “Dr Mangrove”, for it was his pioneering seagrass and mangrove work with the school that was the forerunner of what was about to unfold - they had come to plant mangroves.
Although eager to start their muddy adventure, the children listened to Jye, the project co-ordinator, talk about how and where they were going to plant the mangrove seeds.  Sophie and Ben spoke about the importance of mangroves in helping to create a nursery and feeding grounds for fish and other marine species, and how mangrove trees provide roosting places for birds such as the little pied cormorant.
 
Jye demonstrated how to attach a mangrove seed to the bamboo stake with an elastic band and secure it with a cable tie.  He added that the recent introduction of the cable tie, was to assess if it minimises the effect of wave action and storm surges on the rubber band and the seed and, most importantly, stops the rubber band becoming marine waste.  Once the seedlings have broken free of the elastic bands, the bamboo stakes will be retrieved.  
 
Now the fun bit started.
Picture
It goes like this, Ben!
The bamboo stake group, displaying varying degrees of dexterity, set to work to attach their 400 seedlings to the stakes. Guided by Ben, all were careful to ensure the seed’s root pointed down when it was attached to the stake.  The importance of this became apparent when it came time to push the stakes into the intertidal mud.  The seed is buried so as to ensure the root is just below the mud surface.
Picture
Who needs lunch, we’ve got mud pies!
The other group, under the guidance of Luke and Jason, was adroitly pushing a mud and seagrass mixture into the seedling trays.  It didn’t take long for this to become perhaps the best part of day, for this really was a hands-on experience and there’s nothing like Western Port mud to make it even better.
 
It is thought most of the 400 seeds were pushed into the mixture with the roots pointing down – only time will tell! 

​As the morning progressed, the groups changed over and in between all the activities, they found time to stop for a BBQ lunch – it is believed all hands were washed.  
Picture
"Say mangrove,” photographer Andrew Morrison chipped in.
Picture
Some three weeks later, the seeds are beginning to shoot. They’ll be transplanted in early autumn.
​​Replenished, and depending on which took one’s interest, some went with Jye to finish placing more stakes into the zone thought to be the optimum site behind some existing mangrove stands.  In planting the seeds, much care was taken not to disturb the planting area by trampling around too much – it is thought this practice helps maintain the soil’s integrity, just as nature would want it.
 
After some minor topping up of the trays with “the muddy brew”, as one of the kids described it, and a final check of the seeds, the group helped carry the trays to the edge of a densely wooded mangrove stand. 
 
To avoid damaging the mangrove trees’ pneumatophores (breathing roots) that grow vertically out of the mudflats, the group was happy for Luke and Jason to go from there and place the trays in the “nursery” nestled under the mangrove canopy. 

Those privy to this special experiment are looking forward to seeing how many seedlings will grow.  One student was impressed by the three-metre height of the mature trees and wanted to know how long it would take for his seedlings to grow that tall. ​
​When told it could take up to 10 years for a mangrove tree to grow to a metre or more, he was somewhat intrigued by this, but thought he’d like to come back one day and see how the plants had survived and managed to slow down the foreshore erosion.
 
The seed tray system and anchoring them within a mangrove area has been pioneered by Jason.  The Bass Coast Landcare Network has taken up this method as part of its research to increase the survival rate of mangrove seeds and seedlings.
 
It was now nearing home time.
 
Washed (for that 30 litres of water came in handy), numbers tallied (nobody got stuck in the mud), and with a vote of thanks to the facilitating team, the school excursion had come to an end.
 
In summing up the day, Jye said, “The kids were incredibly positive.  They asked lots of questions and were very happy to be out and about on their first excursion in two years.  They LOVED getting their hands in the mud!”
 
Their teacher Ben Hallas said, “It was an amazing experience to see young locals learn and contribute to our unique environment; it’s something that they will never forget.  Together with Jye and the team, they planted just on 800 mangrove seeds and will now enjoy watching them grow and play a substantial role in the environmental future of Western Port.”

​As the school bus trundled down the dusty Queensferry Jetty Road and the debriefing session began, Jye added, “I think all would agree it’s a great recipe and one that can be used for future mangrove planting excursions.”

Key ingredients
2 Bass Coast Landcare Network facilitators (Jye Anderson and Luke Phillips)
2 OzFish representatives (Dr Sophie Pryor and Ben Cleveland)
1 Port Phillip and Western Port Catchment Management Authority representative and photographer (Andrew Morrison)
1 Queensferry mangrove curator (Jason Noonan)
2 Teachers, 1 assistant and 24 children
1 accessible intertidal zone
800 freshly collected mangrove seeds minus their outer husks
400 bamboo stakes 50cm long, 400 elastic bands, 400 cable ties
10 seedling trays (40 divisions per tray)
8 kilograms of Western Port mud
1 kilogram of seagrass washed up on a foreshore
30 litres of fresh water
1 Mangroves of Victoria Information Kit  

8 Comments
Barbara Oates
25/2/2022 10:49:08 am

Thank you Neil for informing us of the work amazing work that is happening around us to preserve and keep Western Port in a healthy condition. Congratulations the the Bass Valley students for the amazing work they completed. Dr Mangrove and earlier generations Bass Valley Primary school students would be so pleased that this work continues with the same amount of enthusiasm as 25 years ago

Reply
Anne Heath Mennell
25/2/2022 01:42:52 pm

How lovely to read a positive story about Western Port! Thank you once again, Neil for your advocacy of this area and thanks to all involved in making the planting possible. I hope every single one of those seeds survives and thrives and today's kids can bring their kids and show them a healthy community of mature mangroves they helped to plant.

Reply
Joy Button
25/2/2022 04:43:11 pm

Thank you Neil for such an encouraging article and it is wonderful seeing the work started by Dr. Mangrove (Tim Ealey) is continuing. The mangroves and sea grass were his passions as well as his very funny stories and experiences. A fabulous environmentalist who was a unique human being. Thank you for all the work done by the youngsters and teachers and the professionals involved.

Reply
Julia
26/2/2022 12:36:20 am

Thank you Neil for such a good news story. What a great program and a real win-win.
These kids will remember their role in the regeneration of Westernport’s mangroves, and I doubt you could find a more enthusiastic and motivated labour force.
(I don’t think this is in breach of the child labour laws, is it?)

Seriously though, there’s truly no negative in the restoration of Western Port’s mangrove beds; they provide our best defence against coastal inundation and sea level rise, improving water quality and reducing turbidity by slowing and filtering stormwater and agricultural runoff, and mangroves can really reduce the potential energy action of erosion-causing waves.

Instead of just building more sea walls, with such limited success at slowing erosion, the Mornington Peninsula Shire’s new Hastings Foreshore plan is preparing to replant some of the mangroves that once lined Western Port’s shallow north arm.

Mangroves provide feeding and roosting opportunities for shorebirds, and sheltering habitat for countless species of juvenile fish.
If any further evidence is needed to promote the benefits of mangrove regeneration and planting projects, the work of Professor Peter Macreadie at Deakin University’s Blue Carbon Lab has demonstrated the actual dollar value and ecosystem services that mangroves inherently provide.

This world-first research has demonstrated the remarkable capacity of mangroves to safely store Carbon at 40 times the rate of tropical rainforests. In effect this means they are natural, giant Carbon sinks, with the potential to store Carbon at a real dollar rate.
In Carbon constrained economies, the inevitable uptake of carbon offsets and carbon trading schemes could soon provide a new source of income for places like Western Port.


After years of environmental exploitation, it’s wonderful to know that regeneration projects like this are gaining support.

So much work is needed to help reestablish Western Port’s mangrove and Seagrass beds.

Reply
Vanessa
26/2/2022 09:57:01 pm

The key ingredients of an excellent article!

Reply
Neil Daly
27/2/2022 12:34:06 pm

Hi Barbara, Anne, Joy and Julia, thank you for your thoughts and support for the Landcare project. I can report that as of this morning, the seeds planted in the trays are now seedlings between 10 cm to 12 cm in height, and those attached to the stakes are growing and range in height from 8 cm to 12 cm. At this stage, the attrition rate is minimal.

Reply
Anne Heath Mennell
28/2/2022 04:26:23 pm

This is even better news, Neil. Let's hope those little green babies
continue to thrive.

Reply
Anne Caulfield
27/2/2022 01:40:48 pm

Wonderful article! Thank you Neil!! Dr Tim Ealey would be thrilled that the project he began, is continuing!

Reply



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