Clarence High School - Pocket Forest Community Planting Day
Connecting nature, learning & community wellbeing
What an inspiring morning at Clarence High School! Our Community Planting Day on Sunday, 27 July was a huge success, bringing together 44 volunteers, students, staff, families, graduates, local Landcare members, and new faces from the local community.
Everyone came together with a shared purpose: to help restore nature on school grounds and create a space for both people and wildlife to thrive. After the heavy rain the day before, we had clear winter skies and ideal conditions to plant the Pocket Forest.
Photos by Michael Treloar.
What we achieved
This event marked the second phase of Clarence High School’s Pocket Forest project, building on the groundwork laid by the school’s Sustainability class.
After students planted the first half of the forest in the lead-up, the wider community came together to complete the vision.
Together, we:
- Planted the remaining section of the 300sqm native Pocket Forest,
- Extended the wildlife corridor to support bandicoots, native birds, and other local fauna,
- Used a variety of native species sourced from Nipaluna Nursery and TasTafe
- Trialled an experimental approach by planting half the area with biochar to observe its effect on plant success
A great learning experience
Before planting began, students from the Year 9/10 Sustainability class took the lead by demonstrating how to plant correctly. Their skills and confidence showed just how much they’ve learned as they step into their role as caretakers of the forest.
These students are turning sustainability lessons into real-life impact through ongoing stewardship of the site. Every Friday morning, they return to tend the forest through weeding, watering, and mulching. This living classroom is now a space they nurture and take pride in.
The day brought people together from every corner of the community:
- The school principal and family joined in to support the cause,
- Former students returned, this time with their own children,
- New volunteers came along to connect with the local Landcare Tasmania network,
- Families and young kids helped with the plantings,
- And the Sustainability students proudly guided and supported the day.
It was a beautiful mix of generations working side by side, united by a shared love for their school and the environment.
Before & after: what a transformation!
📸 Before:
📸 After:
The difference is remarkable. What was once lawn is now the beginning of a thriving forest corridor filled with native plants and new life.
Don’t miss this video of the planting in action, it’s a powerful visual of what collaboration looks like on the ground.
A project with long-term impact
This project is part of Clarence High School’s long-term vision to increase native vegetation, support biodiversity, and give students a meaningful way to engage with sustainability in action.
What started as an open patch of lawn is now home to hundreds of native plants. A space that supports local wildlife and fosters environmental awareness. The forest also contributes to a larger wildlife corridor, giving native species more space to move and thrive in this peri-urban landscape.
What’s next
The event wrapped up with a relaxed BBQ and hot drinks provided by Clarence High School. As people gathered around and admired the finished site, there was a buzz of ideas; including enthusiasm for another community maintenance day in the near future. It’s amazing what can be achieved in just one morning when we work together.
Attendees were also encouraged to sign up to the Bellerive-Howrah Coastcare future event email list. Bellerive-Howrah Coastcare Group care for the nearby beaches, dunes, and bluffs through weeding, rubbish removal, and planting native species to restore biodiversity.
A huge thank you
Landcare Tasmania’s Education Program extends thanks to everyone who made this day a success:
- Clarence High School – Staff, students, and the BBQ crew!
- Nipaluna Nursery – Provided native plants, tools, and volunteer support
- Hobart Arbor Co – Mulch delivery
- TasTAFE Conservation & Land Management – Donated native plants
- WildlandsTas – Expertise in site preparation
- Bellerive-Howrah Coastcare Group – Provided ongoing support and community volunteers
To every student, teacher, parent, and volunteer who took part — thank you. This Pocket Forest is growing because of you.
Funded by
This Community Planting Day was proudly supported by the Bupa Foundation Landcare Grant, connecting environmental health with community wellbeing through hands-on local action.
Want to get involved next time?
Follow Landcare Tasmania and Clarence High School for updates on future planting days, student-led projects, and volunteer opportunities.
