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The Moorabool News – 26 April, 2022 Page 5
Grammar students Leo Nixon, Tanisha Peel, with Parks Victoria representative Vanessa Wiggenraad (left) and Alex Shellard (right). Photos - Bacchus Marsh Grammar
Designs help conservation A local school has joined forces with Parks Victoria, to design and build signs raising awareness for local wildlife and vital habitat trees. Environmental Science students at Bacchus Marsh Grammar designed signs which explain the importance of ‘habitat trees’, which are used by over 300 species of wildlife across Australia. The signs have been placed in the Lerderderg State Park and Brisbane Ranges National Park, with an official launch in March attended by Bacchus Marsh Grammar students, and staff from Parks Victoria and the Department of Land, Water and Environment (DELWP). Parks Victoria’s Area Chief Ranger, Stuart Lardner, said some might look at a habitat tree and think it is a piece of debris instead of an important ecosystem. “Signage is important to educate visitors, so they don’t interfere with habitat trees,” he said. “We were delighted to work on the new visitor signage with Bacchus Marsh Grammar. The signs will make a great difference illustrating the importance of protecting habitat trees in parks.”
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Education Officer Vanessa Wiggenraad said the collaboration was a great opportunity for the students to both learn about local wildlife, and contribute to the health of the local ecosystem. “The students were really interested to learn about the different animals like the vulnerable brush-tailed phascogale who regularly breed and live within the habitat trees,” she said. “The students were thrilled to see their work printed for display throughout the park. It was a great opportunity for the local community to make a positive impact in their neighbourhood.” Ms Wiggenraad said there are many things that go into making an effective sign, but the Bacchus Marsh Grammar students handled the task exceptionally. “You can't have too much text and it needs to be eye-catching. It is harder than it looks to condense all the important information required into a couple of sentences. The class did an amazing job,” she said. The class created a range of designs, before picking one from the group to feature across the parklands.
Learn more at esv.vic.gov.au or call 136 186.