On the 20th of June we welcomed grade 5/6 students from various schools to our education rooms to learn about different seed cases of Australian plants. We focused on Pods, Cones and Capsules. The students were encouraged to think about how the seeds opened, what might eat the seeds and explore the seeds size shape and textures. Some students were surprised at the different textures of the seed and how small they were compared to their cases, the most common question of the day was can we eat it ? The students from Lang Lang, St James Catholic, Neerim South, Gembrook, Labertouche and Jindivick Primary Schools also received a worksheet to apply what they had learnt and a plant from our nursery to plant at their school or home.

This activity was part of the ‘Caring for Country’ student forum organised by the Westernport Catchment Landcare Network in partnership with the Bunurong Land Council. In the lead up to the forum each school participated in an excursion that involved a range of activities and learning experiences such as camera surveying of the Southern Brown Bandicoot, Habitat restoration planting, nest box monitoring and much more. The forum bought all of the participants together and began with a smoking ceremony at the Deep Creek Reserve Throughout the day the students participated in activities run by Earthy Ellie, Melbourne Water, Kobi Sainty Art, Living Culture as well as our Nursery . The Caring for Country Landcare Connection Program was funded by the Victorian State Government through a Parks Victoria Innovation fund

Congratulations to Westernport Catchment Landcare Network for delivering this great program to connect local students with an enriching cultural and environmental experience