Serpentine residents Diane Toohey and her husband Ken have engaged themselves in an environmental restoration project on Parry Rd in Serpentine.
Mrs Toohey has highlighted the purpose of the project as being to improve the living conditions of local red-tailed black cockatoos, an endemic species that has been reported as facing threats from human activity in the Northern Jarrah Forest bioregion.
The project all began as an initiative from the Tooheys’ granddaughter Olivia, a nine-year-old student, who was pursuing a conservation activity in school.
“My granddaughter, Olivia Conroy-Welby, goes to Presbyterian Ladies College in Claremont. She’s nine years old and in Year 4. She was tasked to do an environmental project, which she chose to do with her good friend Zahra Johnson. My granddaughter and her friend decided they were going to make a nest for a red-tailed black cockatoo,” Mrs Toohey said.
“On reflection, however, it was decided they’d do something a little different. We live on Parry Rd in Serpentine, and I’ve been hoping to get the verge replanted for some time, as it’s very bare, so in the end, Olivia and Zahra settled on that.”
Marri trees are a major source of food for black cockatoos, through their seeds, and thus, the planting of the Marri trees was in an effort to increase the food source for the bird species.
“We wanted to make this big, so we managed to get Serpentine Jarrahdale Landcare to come down and assess the area, and they agreed it would be beneficial. However, they mentioned that the area was lacking in understory foliage, which the black cockatoo also depends on, and therefore, that ought to be planted as well,” said Mrs Toohey.
“After a day of auguring, the holes were successfully dug, and seedlings were provided by Australian Native Nurseries. The two girls later brought their families down to the site, and ten Marri trees were planted. After a successful first couple of weeks of growth, Landcare SJ confirmed the health of the plants, which then received a much-needed mulching.”
Although the girls have completed their school project, Mr and Mrs Toohey are seeking to take this further.
“We’ve only worked on a small patch of the verge, which is a total of six by 300 metres. What we’re trying to do now, besides get the local council on board, is to have Presbyterian Ladies College bring Olivia and Zahra’s class down to the site to engage in planting the required understory.
“Additionally, we’re hoping to secure funding to purchase seedlings, and have a professional come down to spray the weeds in the area.
“I’ve already visited their school and addressed their class regarding the project and the importance of the red-tailed black cockatoo. One of the great things about this project is that the school kids will be able to come down, maybe every six months or so, and actually monitor the progress of the growth. If we’re lucky, this’ll turn into a longer-term restoration project that will engage other groups as well.”
Mr Toohey also feels that this undertaking holds great potential for the future.
“I think it’s just going to take off. I’m really happy to follow her along and support my wife and the kids,” he said.
