The Greening Benalla group - which now comprises Christine Holmes, Judy Schwartzman,  Sue  Campbell and Kate Holmes -  operates on an occasional basis as a cooperative team.   

Since the group's successful event on the lake and at the market, where we gave away about 200 trees to be planted in the Benalla Rural City, the group hasn't taken on another project.  We had been hoping to have our suggestions welcomed by Council and offers from the Council to work together, however this has not been forthcoming, because of various constraints. 

The group isn't meeting regularly at the moment, but would be delighted to be contacted by anyone interested in  greening and cooling the urban spaces in Benalla.  It may be your passion!  If it is, we would love to hear from you!

Christine Holmes
[email protected]

Since the last AGM our focus has been on connecting people to the natural environment, with the well-documented aim that when people are better connected to nature and through social connection, they value the natural environment, and gain mental and physical health benefits.
 
With 2 successful grant applications by Kate Holmes on behalf of the Greening Group, to the Social Inclusion Action Group, the Greening Group ran:
 
Plant-A-Tree Day on Sunday 26th May 2024 with 85 plants to give away for people to plant. Christine selected & purchased suitable plants, Karen printed up signs.
 
65 people registered with 40 known attendees including some late attendees. 35 plants were taken with planting instructions. Another 20 plants were given out to 14 people at the Waminda Community lunch at the CWA hall on Wed 12th July. Some money left over was used to buy more plants, guards & stakes to give out with the remaining 30 at sessions like Food Co-op, Waminda morning teas.
 
On the day, people enjoyed the Wayapa session run by Kate, and the Nature Games session run by Rachel, as well as the planting demonstration and information sessions run by Christine and Kate, & the BBQ cooked and served by Benalla Lions.
 
Community education provided through a Nature Games session included:

• Facts about trees  
• Ecosystem dynamics
• How trees function  

The Wayapa Wuurrk session combined:

• Wellbeing  
• Mindfullness and
• Environmental education  

 
The Art of Connection was run by Kate Holmes in January 2025 with another successful SIAG application from the Health & Well-Being Program.
 
An immersive environmental awareness and wellbeing program, it invited participants to interact with the natural environment through a series of 3 nature-based art and games workshops.
 
The workshops were facilitated by local artists and nature connection practitioners in various nature reserves and parklands within and surrounding Benalla.
 
Participants had the opportunity to be guided through nature connection practices which help to "rewire" the nervous system to promote a sense of wellbeing and connection through nature. The groups then participated in the collaborative making of natural ephemeral art pieces to generate a collective snapshot of the experience and facilitate space for sharing, connection and discussion about their experiences and connection to environment.
 
Local area field guides and information about the landscape and relevant species to the reserve or park were made available as part of the program, promoting awareness and connection to the broader ecological community within which we live.

At an individual level, the facilitated nature connection experiences were designed to bring about a sense of personal well-being as nature time - particularly within a guided framework - acts as a nervous system reset and supports mental health. The program gave participants tools which they may integrate into their lifestyle to support well-being.
 
Opportunities for meaningful social connection were provided through the group facilitated processes including collaborative art pieces and sharing circles; opportunities for participants to meet like-minded community members and build social bonds through the shared experience of awe, wonder or curiosity in nature.
 
Broader environmental benefit for the community: The event promoted environmental awareness, connection and responsibility. By developing meaningful connection to the natural world, people develop a sense of purpose and stewardship which supports wellbeing and belonging and a desire to protect the natural environment.
 
In particular, the event was promoted to groups who support those experiencing isolation or mental health and wellbeing challenges.
 
 
Benalla Council National Tree Day Event – Planting. 28th July 2024
 
BSFG received notification from the Environmental Sustainability Coordinator at BRCC, of the Council’s Event with an invitation to share this among our Members and Supporters. Many from BSFG attended this planting day, in Council land adjacent to Psaltis Pde. It was a positive and enjoyable day, thanks to BRCC and the Regent Honeyeater Project.
 
Loss of mature trees. September 2024
 
BSFG received a copy of an email from a BSFG supporter to the Environmental Sustainability Coordinator at Council, which was shared with the BSFG committee and Greening &
 
Cooling group. It detailed the Supporter’s disappointment that 4 mature gums providing habitat, had been bulldozed in land north-east of the last industrial building in Irwin Rd, in a paddock adjacent to Sydney Rd, and included reasons why it is important to keep mature trees. We believe the writer followed up with their own questions to the ES Co-ordinator, but answers were not shared with BSFG.
 
The Greening Group is concerned about any potential tree loss in our Council area, and continues to look for ways to prevent this and for opportunities to plant suitable trees, if possible in collaboration with Council. We encourage people to write to the council with any concerns about tree cover and habitat trees, at any time.
 
Note that to have maximum effect, emails can be addressed to each councillor individually (email addresses are on the Council website), the CEO and the relevant Council employee.

The Greening group is currently working on the Plant a Tree Day event planned for this Sunday
26th May. We were successful at gaining a Social Inclusion Grant funded by Benalla Council. This event is free, for Benalla locals, all ages and abilities welcome. There will be Wayap Wuurrk for connection and wellbeing, nature games, and a free barbeque. People will be given a plant to plant around their home to create a shady spot for their household. They will also be provided with information on the importance of shade and how to plant their small tree or shrub. (flyer)

In March we hosted Andie Guerin of the Regent Honeyeater Project to speak at our BSFG General meeting.Andie shared his extensive knowledge on local plants that would be suitable for planting on our nature strips and in our gardens, and what conditions and pitfalls we need to consider when selecting plants.

The Greening group is concerned about the way we see subdivisions being developed in the
Benalla Council area. Specifically, the lack of planning to provide for public open space in new
subdivisions, and the mass clearing of all existing, often mature, trees to make way for new
subdivisions poses a problem for the future. Fewer shade trees have been planted in and around Benalla over the last 20 years. The problem of reduced and insufficient shade where people live is now widely recognised across Australia with regional towns having some unique blockers to solving this problem.

Climate Change being the driver of increased temperatures around the globe, trees have an important part to play in mitigating its effects, and in protecting the health of communities with a wide variety of benefits as we learnt when Dr Greg Moore spoke in Benalla last year.

In Benalla, less shade trees have been planted due to several factors, including overhead power lines, narrow nature strips in newer subdivisions, and a reduced budget for footpaths, curb and channel.

BSFG member Howard Bartlett has shared with us a document prepared for the Municipal Association of Victoria titled 'Shaping Regional and Rural Victoria - A Discussion Paper'. It has
many point of interest in common with BSFG objectives including:

1. Greening of streets and reserves
2. Solar farms
3. Council Resources
4. Affordable appropriate housing

If anyone is interested in a copy, see me or Howard after the meeting. This area is one that the
Greening & Cooling Benalla group will be working to address going forward.

We hope we can work with Benalla Council and developers to ensure that Benalla has shade trees in every subdivision and on all vacant Council land, and also encourage home owners to plant shade trees.

​

Judy Schwarzman