A quick Q&A with Caroline Raines from Perth Montessori School.
What project did you use the grant to complete?
We installed two large specimen trees at the front of the school campus facing Egham Road. The grant funded the purchase of the trees and our school community were also very generous and raised funds that paid for the costs of transport and the impressive crane lift to install them.
(Note: The school raised additional funding to secure mature transplant trees. The Urban Forest Grant funds trees up to a maximum size of 500ltr.)
What made you apply for a UF grant with the Town?
I had been aware of the Urban Forest Grants at the Town of Vic Park for a little while, but it was not entirely clear how Perth Montessori could best make use of such a grant. The school has a small urban campus and logistics such as access onto site can be very difficult. Having completed a couple of ToVP Place grants the previous year, our Place Leader, Tracy McQue, provided some useful guidance and put us in touch with the key Urban Forest people at the Town. This allowed us to plan how we could install fewer but larger trees in the available space at the school.
Are you happy with the result?
Absolutely! The transformation has been significant for the school, providing much needed shade, greening and natural cooling on campus. Previously we only had four mature trees on campus, now we have two new ones that are well on their way to becoming beautiful big specimens! It was a joy to see them planted after all the hard work to make it happen.
How did you find the process of working with the Town?
ToVP has been very supportive through the process. Having completed a few grants now, I think the key is to find the right person in the Town who has the skills or the knowledge to guide or help with answering your questions and problem solving. Our Place Leader, Tracy, has been very helpful with this process. She has extensive experience with her colleagues at ToVP, as well as detailed knowledge of our local area and our school.
Do you have any advice for others who are thinking of applying?
Plan, plan and plan some more. Try and be as detailed as you can with your budget and always include a contingency amount. Even with the best planning there are always things that arise that you didn't expect.
Hear from Renata Chaplin from Harold Hawthorn Centre about their Urban Forest Grant experience.
What project did you use the grant to complete?
We used the grant on a very exciting project, we designed and planted garden areas around the Centre which represent and are themed around the WA Noongar people's important knowledge system, the Six Seasons calendar.
The six seasons being Makuru (June-July), Djilba (Aug-Sept), Kambarang (Oct-Nov), Birak (Dec-Jan), Bunuru (Feb-March) and Djeran (Apr-May).
We wanted to not simply plant trees but use the opportunity to ensure that the project had meaning, was educational, paid respect to the local first nations peoples wisdom of native fauna and flora and utilised this wisdom to ensure that the urban forest we are contributing to will be appropriate for our environmental conditions, tell a story and engage the community.
What made you apply for a UF grant with the Town?
The Centre has a close relationship with the Town and aligns closely with the Town's strategic community plan. Our Centre is located within the TOVP and we strongly support the Town's goal to increase green canopy. We identified opportunities around the Centre where we could contribute to this goal by planting more trees and greenery, and we were excited to apply for the UF grant to assist us to fund our greening project.
As a non-for-profit organisation, we rely on grants to be able to deliver such projects with the ultimate aim to benefit the community. This was a perfect opportunity for us to contribute to the Town's goals and bring together the community to be part of something meaningful which will have lasting benefits.
Are you happy with the result?
We are extremely happy with the results. After the Six Seasons gardens we planted, we held a walk around information session with the local community to tour them through the spaces we created. Our Horticulturalist ensured this was an interactive and informative activity which included telling the story of each space, how each space reflects one or more of the six seasons, and the meaning behind the design and the plants themselves.
We've received lots of positive feedback from the community, not only on the look of each space but also the feedback on having learned something new. It has been really rewarding seeing the plants growing and the spaces keep changing over time as the plants are developing and coming together.
How did you find the process of working with the Town?
We have always found the process of working with the town positive. We really appreciated the regular updates and check ins and the consultation meeting we had with the Town's urban forest staff was helpful in clarifying the process, the timeframes, and confirming that we were on the right track.
When some things needed to be changed due to availability of plants or unforeseen circumstances, the Town was always understanding and flexible which was greatly appreciated.
Do you have any advice for others who are thinking of applying?
I encourage others to apply, as the initiative is such an important one and highly rewarding to be part of. Where opportunities to involve and collaborate with others in a community focused project arise, I would encourage others to get on board. The process is not too onerous and the support from the Town has been great. I would also offer to assist, share our experiences with others who may be interested if they wanted to reach out.