Environmental future is in safe hands

THE future is in pre-history for Corrimal Primary School students, who will tomorrow plant an ancient species of tree to help future generations.

The planting is part of the school's contribution to National Tree Day, which takes place on July 29, and is aimed at getting local communities involved in tree planting.

Corrimal Primary has chosen to plant an endangered Australian tree called the Wollemi Pine, which was only discovered in the mid-nineties and is thought to have been around since dinosaurs roamed the earth.

Corrimal Primary School Year 6 student Harley Bird said the trees were on the brink of extinction when they were discovered.

"It's a species that's been around since Jurassic times and they just discovered them before it was too late because there are less than 100 in the wild," he said.

The tree is currently shorter than the smallest Kindergarten pupil at the school, but with the tender care of students should grow to become an impressively large pine.

Corrimal Primary is an environmentally conscious school, and even have their own environment club.

The school also boast their own rainforest garden, which they are responsible for maintaining and tending to on a regular basis.

Tomorrow, Friday July 26 is Schools Tree Day, and will see hundreds of thousands of children across Australia planting trees in and around their schools.

In total more than 300,000 people participated in Tree Day in last year, together planting over 1.6 million native trees and shrubs at 3600 sites around the country.

The planting of the trees will help provide food and shelter for wildlife, while also increasing local biodiversity and combating the threat of habitat loss.

National Tree Day is organised by Planet Ark, and supported by volunteer organizations, businesses, churches, schools and individuals who share a passion for the environment.