A Lal Lal TreeProject Story
At a recent seed collection workshop, I had the pleasure of meeting Michelle. As we chatted about native plants and seed collecting, I mentioned TreeProject. Michelle smiled and told me a story that began nearly three decades ago.
Twenty-seven years ago, Michelle and her partner purchased a small weatherboard bungalow on a parcel of land in Lal Lal, Victoria. The property had previously been used to run horses. By the time they arrived, the paddocks were tired and bare – pasture worn down to dust.
Michelle wanted to bring life back to the land. In her search for guidance, she discovered the Creswick Seed Bank and TreeProject, and she began growing seedlings. Small tubes of native plants destined for her own property. Those first seedlings marked the beginning of a long and patient process of regeneration.
Today, the transformation is remarkable.
Many of those original TreeProject seedlings now stand as tall trees across the property. Even more encouraging, they are doing what healthy ecosystems do – seeding the next generation. Around them, a second layer of plants is establishing itself: young trees and understorey species finding their place in the growing habitat.
Michelle proudly showed me the largest Blackwood tree I have ever seen. Around its base and scattered across the property are young blackwoods, natural descendants spreading through the landscape.
Each day, Michelle and her family walk the land and witness the life it now supports. What was once a dusty paddock has become a thriving environment. Kangaroos graze quietly through the trees. Possums, birds, lizards, and ants all share the space. During our walk, we even spotted an echidna casually crossing the path in front of us – a small but powerful reminder of how far the land has come.
The Manna Gums have occasionally hosted visiting koalas, while the dense Prickly Moses provides shelter for small birds.
Michelle was delighted to hear that TreeProject is still going strong after all these years – continuing as a community-powered program run largely by dedicated volunteers.
Standing among the trees she planted decades ago, the impact of that collective effort is easy to see. What began as a handful of seedlings has grown into habitat, shelter, and life.
Michelle has shared some wonderful photos of the property that capture this transformation – from bare paddock to flourishing landscape.
Stories like Michelle’s remind us that every seedling planted is an investment in the future. Sometimes, it just takes a little time to see the forest grow.
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With thanks to TreeProject Coordinator, Marlea, for this submission