Landcare Consultant, Trees Australia
BRUCE IVERS CONSULTING
Bringing new life to Country
ABOUT BRUCE
Bruce has been involved in landcare work for 25 years, the last 13 running Trees Australia. He grew up on a farm near Kojonup, Western Australia (Kaneang Country), and ran the family farm for 10 years. In 2003, the farm was sold and in 2008, at the invitation of the Ardross Primary School Principal, Bruce moved his back yard nursery to the school grounds and started teaching the students to grow seedlings. The same year he began taking city kids tree planting in the country.
Bruce holds a Master of Leadership and Management degree (Curtin University) and is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.
TREES AUSTRALIA
Founded by Bruce in 2008, Trees Australia (formerly known as Trees4Change) is the largest school-based tree planting program in Australia. In addition to organising and running tree planting projects, Trees Australia's programs can include research activities, farm and sanctuary visits, camps, cultural sharing with Noongar educators and guided bushwalks.
TREE PLANTING
Since 2008, Bruce has worked with schools, farmers, corporations, community groups and landcare organisations to plant over 400,000 seedlings with over 5,500 school students. Planting has taken place on degraded land from Myalup Beach (near Bunbury), north to New Norcia and southeast to Pingelly and Katanning.
We offer:
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Day trips to 3-day camps
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Metro and rural sites
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Programs for Kindergarten to Year 12 students, corporations and community groups
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Extra activities, such as visits to Barna Mia Animal Sanctuary (camps only) and sites planted in past years.
Pictured: Year 11 students from Santa Maria College.
THE TWO KNOWLEDGES WALK
In addition to tree planting, Trees Australia programs may include the Two Knowledges Walk. Participants experience a guided bushwalk with an ecologist and a Noongar educator, who explain the natural environment from both perspectives.
The program aims to bring participants a greater awareness of the parallels between Aboriginal and Western science, and a deeper understanding of the importance of rehabilitation work.
Pictured: David Wardong Collard sharing with Forest Crescent Primary School students.
RESEARCH
Tree planting can be accompanied by enriching research activities for both participants and landholders.
We run drone surveys to monitor plant growth on our sites (and capture spectacular aerial footage!).
Participants can assist in activities monitoring how survival rate varies with:
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Different types of tree guards, e.g., plastic versus cardboard
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Site preparation techniques, e.g., ripping versus non-ripping
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Plant pot size
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Plant species in different environments.
Pictured: Sheldon Garlic and Monty House preparing for a drone survey.
TESTIMONIALS
Tree planting is an authentic activity that makes a positive difference to the mental health of our students and improves the environment. Trees Australia provide a unique service.
Andrew Holmes, Principal of Forest Crescent Primary School
Trees Australia is a wonderful program. It gets people out on Country, being active, contributing to restoring our stunning biodiversity, finding animals and plants and understanding those relationships.
Mandy Bamford, Bamford Consulting Ecologists
A program like this is so important. It's relevant to us as a human race dealing with climate change, and - for us as Noongars - it's very relevant to caring for our Country and looking after it. It's been a joy.
David Wardong Collard, Noongar Educator
WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
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