Revegetation Project
Seven commemorative trees were planted at Markham Reserve in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee year 2022 (one for each decade of Her reign). This was the start of something big!
Now working with the local community, we aim to plant a further 3,000 trees in the Reserve over two new sites. A focus of the project is to embed community – with a particular focus on involving the 450 or so new social housing residents in the recently constructed Markham Housing Development. Importantly, 10 or so community groups including social support services, sporting clubs and a host of others are actively participating in the program. A big part of our group’s focus is building community through revegetating and caring for our creeks and their surrounds.
Community Groups Involved
As part of this project, we are connecting the following groups with the local Friends of Markham Forest:
- Alamein Neighbourhood and Learning Centre
- The Craig Family Centre
- Ashburton United Soccer Club
- Chadstone and East Malvern Rotary
- Lions Club of Boroondara
- Ashburton Young Cricketers Club
- Friends of Ashburton Forest
- Holmesglen TAFE
- Urban Guerrillas
- 1st Glen Iris Scouts
- KooyongKoot Alliance
- Boroondara Council
- Food Forest Ashburton
- Ashburton Community Garden
- Yarra Riverkeeper
- Melbourne Water
Planting Work
In relation to planting a further 3,000 plants, the following work on the ground has occurred to date:
- The KKA has conducted meetings with some of the ten stakeholders in the Markham Reserve project on managing the revegetation project.
- Mulch has been spread and weeding undertaken.
- Planting is underway.
First Community Planting Day – 6th July, 2025
A huge thanks to everyone (over 40 planters) who turned out on Sunday, 29th June at Markham Reserve for Friends of Markam Forest revegetation project. Not only did we have a full house (we closed registrations on Saturday), we got over 1,200 plants in the ground, watered with a scattering of magic crystals!!!
It was great to see so many groups represented including ACF Malvern, John Gardiners Rovers Crew, Friends of Ashburton Forest and Back 2 Nettleton – all lending a hand. Thank you to Chadstone and East Malvern Rotary for cooking the BBQ. Also, James from Boroondara Council for helping with the prep and on the day! Well done to Albert for the logistics and Vicki for the marketing. Thank you to Melbourne Water who provided KooyongKoot Alliance with the grant.
It was nice to see lots of young kids there today taking an active part in the proceedings and to see Matt Freagon, MP for Ashwood and his son enthusiastically getting their hands dirty.
Our next planting is Sunday, 3rd August, 2025 so please come along to the last Markham planting for this year.
Please register here: https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-markham-forest-revegetation-project