6 May 2026
We had the incredible opportunity to work alongside the students from Murrabit Primary School on a meaningful wetland restoration project at the beautiful Wirra-Lo Wetlands. Students played an active role in restoring wetlands during their drying phase by planting a variety of aquatic vegetation. These plantings will help provide essential food sources, shelter, and breeding habitat for important native species including the Growling Grass Frog and Australasian Bittern. The wetlands are home to an incredible diversity of wildlife, with over 100 bird species recorded, along with native frogs, reptiles, mammals, and aquatic life. Students had the opportunity to learn about the importance of wetlands as critical habitat and breeding grounds for many threatened species. Located only ten minutes from the school, many students had never previously visited the wetlands despite it being so close to their community. Through this project, students were able to connect with a local ecosystem firsthand and witness the importance of healthy wetland environments so close to their school.
During our visits, students explored Indigenous wetland plants and learned about traditional bush remedies for colds and flu, along with local bush tucker species. The wetlands became an outdoor classroom filled with curiosity, hands-on learning and cultural knowledge sharing. Three months after the initial planting, we returned to the revegetation site with students to monitor the incredible growth and progress of the project. It was amazing for students to see the direct impact of their hard work and understand how restoration efforts can quickly improve habitat for wildlife. The project created an opportunity for young people to learn not only about ecology and biodiversity, but also about their role in caring for Country and continuing connections to culture and environment.
Overall, this project successfully connected students with nature, culture, and conservation through hands-on environmental action within their own community. This project was proudly supported by the Victorian Junior Landcare and Biodiversity Grants.
