FRIENDS OF MOUNT MAJURA
MEDIA RELEASE
19 July 2014

National Tree Day on Mount Majura
Sunday 27 July 1pm–3:30pm

Mount Majura Nature Reserve will once again benefit from the community coming together for a National Tree Day planting event on Sunday 27 July. The event will build on last year’s spectacular effort next door to ‘The Fair’ in North Watson, and is a great opportunity for the community to get outside and make a real difference to the bush in their backyard. 

“New and old neighbours of Mount Majura can work together, get to know each other and enjoy our local bush environment. All you need is a positive attitude and a willingness to get your hands dirty. We provide you with the know-how and resources you need to get involved” says Waltraud Pix, the Friends of Mount Majura’s National Tree Day coordinator. “Planting native trees, shrubs and wildflowers is a great opportunity for families to make a simple but lasting positive contribution to the environment”.

Volunteer registration opens at 12:45pm and Shane Rattenbury, Minister for Territory and Municipal Services will kick off the event at 1pm with a how-to-plant demonstration session. Hot chocolate and TimTams will keep participants’ energy levels high and the Majura Mountain Scouts will serve a free BBQ to conclude the planting session at around 3:30pm. 

This year’s event will be the third stage of the community re-vegetation project that began in 2012. “Past land use such as stock grazing, car racing, equestrian events and horse agistment have significantly degraded the grassy woodland in the area,’’ Mrs Pix says. “We aim to replace woody weeds with local native shrubs to improve habitat for little woodland birds and to re-introduce native plant diversity that has been lost.” 

Mount Majura is home to an area of nationally endangered Yellow Box–Red Gum Grassy Woodland. Now rare outside of the ACT, this type of ecosystem supports a suite of precious plants and animals such as Hoary Sunray, Golden Sun Moth, Sugar Gliders and a range of declining woodland bird species. New and existing suburbs put significant pressures on local areas of ecological value such as Mount Majura. Lending a hand at events like National Tree Day is a great way to improve the health of these areas and provides opportunities for residents of 'The Fair' and the surrounding suburbs of Watson and Hackett to learn about and better protect their local environment.

Those interested in National Tree Day can find out more at:
http://majura.org/2014/06/30/national-tree-day-planting-party-on-mt-majura/

Acknowledgements
National Tree Day on Mount Majura has been organised by the Friends of Mount Majura and the Watson Woodlands Working Group. Generous support has been provided by the North Canberra Community Council, ACT Parks and Conservation Service, Majura Mountain Scouts, Conservation Council ACT Region, Greening Australia and Village Building Company. 

Contact
Waltraud Pix
Friends of Mount Majura, National Tree Day coordinator
Phone: 6247 7515 or 0435 357 172