Tree planting and invasive alien clearing
James Craib Park was left in perpetuity for the Hilton Community to recreate in. It lies next door to the Hilton Tennis Club and Squash Courts. The field is used by dog walkers, homeschool sports, mums and tots, horse riders, etc. I got permission to plant indigenous trees adjacent to the tennis courts and to clear invasive alien plants from the property, and in so doing, elevate the 1st Hilton Scout profile.
As part of the Champions for Nature challenge, 1st Hilton Scouts donated 30 indigenous trees which they planted on 2023/04/27. We added bone meal, compost and fertiliser and followed through with weekly watering.
The invasive alien clearing was tackled on 2023/05/12 with bowsaws, pruning saws and my dad did the chainsawing. Large trees were ring-barked and treated with a herbicide and smaller trees were cut and stem treated with Kaput. All the brush was carted away to the municipal landfill.
Everyone that uses James Craib Park and the tennis and squash courts benefitted from the exercise (approximately 250 people). Besides beautification, the shrubbery keeps children safe from running into the road after a ball. Shade from the trees is an ecosystem service, and invasive clearing creates a healthy ecosystem and benefits biodiversity.
I learnt that people have their own agendas and it is difficult to reach consensus in trying to do good, but after careful negotiations, we managed to get onto the same page and carry out the project.
The Scouts were so willing to get stuck in and I am proud to be part of 1st Hilton Troop.
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