Plant production at the Community Nursery is in full swing with volunteers aiming to grow 20,000 local native plants to help revegetate Geraldton’s natural bush and beach areas this year.

City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said the Community Nursery is steadily ‘growing’ from strength to strength.

“Following the well-attended Volunteer Open Day in October last year, the number of nursery volunteers has grown to well over 40 who have all shown a keen interest in acquiring new skills,” he said.

“Recently, volunteers ranging in age from 13 to 82 attended a propagation workshop to learn the secrets behind successfully growing our very diverse native plants.

“Over two days, volunteers and MEEDAC work for the Dole participants banded together to learn how to germinate various seeds, how to prick out and pot on seedlings and how to grow local native plants from cuttings.”

Volunteers have already put their new knowledge to use when the first seeds ‘hit the dirt’ before the Christmas. Now that the break is over, propagation will begin in earnest.