Big and small hands plant for the future

Kneeling in the winter sun beside the oval at Mark Oliphant College, a senior student holds a young tree steady while a junior buddy presses soil around its roots.

The students were among 20 others at the school in Munno Para who recently planted native trees for Schools Tree Day, part of Planet Ark's National Tree Day.

Mark Oliphant College sits within Playford Alive, a large residential development project by Renewal SA.

Ten senior student leaders each guided a younger primary school buddy through the planting process.

Patricia Lima, Project Manager at Renewal SA overseeing the Playford Alive project, said watching the older and younger students planting together was a highlight.

"It was really special to watch," Ms Lima said.

"The senior students were incredibly caring and supportive of the younger children, encouraging them throughout while respecting their individual personalities and letting them take part in their own way.

"Seeing such young people take responsibility for supporting their younger peers was a wonderful reflection of their leadership."

GreenInc, which is contracted by Renewal SA to deliver landscaping across Playford Alive, donated its time and resources for the day, including mulch, water and fertiliser.

GreenInc is part of the Bedford Group, which provides employment opportunities for people of all abilities and supports people who face barriers to work.

Before the first tree went in, GreenInc Project Manager Leon gathered the students and talked them through the two species they would be planting.

The first was the Tuckeroo (Cupaniopsis anacardioides), which grows to up to 12 metres.

The second was the taller Brush Box (Lophostemon confertus), which can reach up to 20 metres.

Both were planted along a new walkway, where they will grow into a canopy and provide shade for students walking to and from class.

During the planting, Leon told the students the benefits would be felt long before the trees reached maturity.

"They will improve air quality, create habitat and make this a healthier place for everyone," he said.

He also shared a sentiment that seemed certain to stay with many of those present: "As the trees grow, so will the children who planted them."

Ms Lima said the sentiment captured the spirit of the initiative.

"I hope it gave the students a sense of ownership and the chance to feel they had contributed to something that will remain at their school and grow over time."

With the planting complete, the new Tuckeroos and Brush Boxes now line the walkway beside the oval, where they will grow to provide shade for future generations of students.