Nexus - 0109 - New Times Magazine-pages

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World First BANK TREE How can we change our attitudes to the Earth and trees in asingle generation? The idea of a Treebank - whereby people can directly invest in trees for the future without using money - is being explored in a small school in northern NSW. | 2a} oy rr re 5 Tallowood Tree Bank was officially opened on World En- vironment Day at Tallowood Community School at Bowrav- ille. Parents, friends and children celebrated the day in the common purpose of Earth repair action and a shadehouse was built on the school grounds as a bank for trees. Local people were invited to open their life savings account by depositing/donating trees to the Treebank. Initially, 330 Trees were deposited in the Treebank by local nurseries, residents and the Forestry Commission which will be used in environmental education and awareness programmes that promote Earth repair action by planting and caring for trees. This learning experience is also aimed at teaching the value of trees rather than money, Giving away or swapping trees creates a new way of thinking about trees, forests, orchards and even economics. The trees will be used in Tallowood School’s reafforesta- tion project which includes the reclamation of a swamp area __ with the planting of rainforest species. The Nambucca Reaf- forestation Society is also supervising the planting of a hard- wood plot and windbreak to demonstrate the uses of trees. The Earth Repair Foundation has enthusiastically sup- ported the establishment of a food park in the school, Food trees including citrus and nut varieties will also be planted, tended and eaten by the kids. A bird bath will be built to accommodate the many species of birds and other wildlife drawn to bird-attracting trees. The bank will also be supplying trees for local tree planting activities and will loan other schools credit in the Treebank. Gifts of trees were made to all local schools for Arbour day. Tallowood is taking advantage of a government minigrant for schools that improve their environment and is a great example of what can be achieved around the country for a minimal cost by a caring community. Anyone can open a tree bank. People can deposit a wide variety of trees and ‘withdraw’ single species to build specific orchards. Trees also provide interest in terms of biomass, seed and grafting stock. NEXUS New Times Nine = 1989