Barry the dog also joined in the fun!

In this week’s news article, we are happy to update you on the latest happenings from “down under” – Australia.

Heather Falloon, our regional coordinator volunteer for Australia, shares the following story with us:

“Ecological restoration can also be educational, innovative, and enriching”

When developing Trees for Schools 2025, we were looking for ways to align Ösel’s vision for the Global Tree Initiative’s (GTI) with meaningful, community-based action in Australia. Partnering with schools felt like a natural fit, as it not only supports GTI’s environmental goals but also fosters meaningful educational experiences.

In Australia, our initiatives operate with a deep respect for the land and its First Nations heritage, ensuring that each project honors traditional practices and nurtures the unique biodiversity of our landscapes. By collaborating with Indigenous knowledge holders, GTI ensures that every tree planted contributes to thriving ecosystems while educating children and communities about the importance of caring for the environment.

The Trees for Schools 2025 pilot project at Daylesford Dharma School is a beautiful example of this vision in action. Located on the traditional lands of the Dja Dja Wurrung people in Central Victoria, the school is renowned for its award-winning sustainability programs and its Bush School curriculum, which nurtures a deep connection between children and the natural world. This school is a first of its kind, combining the Australian curriculum with Buddhist principles.

A glimpse of the work happening at the school

Through collaboration with Mark Allaway, the Daylesford Dharma School, and the local community, we’re designing a project that demonstrates how ecological restoration can also be educational, innovative, and enriching – providing children with opportunities to engage in nature-based learning and cultivate a sense of stewardship, mindfulness, and wellbeing. We are creating this project to be easily replicated, with the hope of inspiring similar projects across Australia where our values and goals are aligned!

From October 2025 to April 2026, students, families, and staff will work together to transform Daylesford Dharma Schools’ schoolyard into a thriving outdoor classroom. The project includes planting up to 500 native trees, shrubs, and grasses, such as Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra), which supports local biodiversity by providing habitats for insects, lizards, and potentially even echidnas. This living ecosystem will offer students a hands-on education in ecology, biodiversity, and stewardship, while fostering mindfulness, resilience, and a sense of shared belonging.

Support has already been amazing. Our GoFundMe campaign has raised over $2,000 from 40 generous donors, and we’re well on our way to the $3,500 goal. The funds will help us buy tube stock plants from a local Indigenous nursery, as well as the soil, mulch, guards, and fencing needed for the planting.

Just this week, Mark Allaway and the planting team were back out at the school, watering the new plants and making sure everything is prepped for the next planting day on Thursday, November 6th. Parents and students will be rolling up their sleeves, too – workshopping the best way to set out the planting areas and put ecological design principles into practice. This moment really marks the start of the kids’ journey in the Trees for Schools outdoor classroom, where learning and caring for the environment go hand in hand!

I’m incredibly grateful for the support, insights, and collaboration from Mark Allaway, the school, and everyone involved locally.

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Thank you so much, Heather, for this wonderful news update! We are so thankful for the work that you, Mark, and the team are doing. You are an inspiration to us all! We appreciate you, and we look forward to seeing this project grow and develop!

In case you missed it, check out the success story we recently published about the trees planted at Daylesford Dharma School. And, if you want to know more about Heather, check out this new blog article!

Visit the GoFundMe page to donate towards this project.
All donations are sincerely appreciated.