More than 500 native trees are now in the ground in Flinders following a hands-on environmental project involving the Rotary Club of Mt Eliza, Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation and the Woodleigh School community.

Last Sunday, 27 volunteers came together on private property in the Flinders area to help restore native vegetation and strengthen important wildlife corridors across the southern Mornington Peninsula.

The project followed an approach to Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation, with Rotary asking how it could best support their work. Rather than providing a financial donation this year, the organisation identified a different and equally valuable need: people power.

Rotarians joined 20 Year 9 students, parents and friends from Woodleigh School to spend the day planting more than 500 trees.

And planting the trees was only the beginning. Each seedling also needed a protective guard to help prevent damage from local kangaroos and give the young trees the best chance of becoming established.

Creating connected habitat

The planting forms part of a broader effort by Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation to restore native vegetation on private properties.

Over many years, some areas of natural vegetation across the southern Peninsula have been lost or degraded as land use has changed. Private landholders are now playing an important role in restoring habitat on their properties.

By planting native vegetation, these projects help create wildlife corridors that connect remaining patches of habitat. For koalas, this can provide access to important food trees while also supporting a much broader range of native wildlife.

The work is particularly important because planting needs to take place during the wetter winter months. The current planting season runs through to the end of September, after which the soil becomes too dry for newly planted trees to establish successfully.

Young people making a difference

The project also provided a valuable opportunity for young people to get directly involved in environmental conservation.

The Year 9 students from Woodleigh School brought plenty of energy to the day, working alongside Rotarians and other volunteers to complete the planting.

Two of the students involved are also being supported to participate in an environmental volunteer expedition to Indonesia. Their program will focus on the preservation of marine environments, with the hope that the experience will contribute to broader understanding and conservation efforts, including issues relevant to Australia's own marine ecosystems.

For Rotary, opportunities such as these demonstrate the value of working alongside young people and giving them practical opportunities to contribute to their communities and the environment.

From financial support to people power

Rotary Mt Eliza has previously supported Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation financially, including a $500 donation last year following a presentation to the club.

This year's project demonstrated that supporting a community organisation does not always mean writing a cheque. Sometimes the most valuable contribution is simply showing up, getting involved and doing the work.

The planting day also provided an opportunity for fellowship among the volunteers, with Rotarians sharing the experience and enjoying lunch together afterwards.

The Rotary Club of Mt Eliza thanks Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation, Woodleigh School, the participating students, parents and friends, and the private landholder who has made their property available for habitat restoration.

Together, more than 500 trees have been given a new home, creating the beginnings of a stronger and more connected habitat for koalas and other native wildlife on the Mornington Peninsula.

It is a small step in a much bigger environmental journey, but one that shows what can happen when community organisations, young people, volunteers and landholders work together.