Biodiversity Officer Visit
Nigel Cotsell, biodiversity officer with the Coffs Harbour City Council, spoke with our science group of students about the wonderful tree life that exists on our school grounds and nearby. He took the students through a description of each tree and the role they play in preserving the biodiversity of the Coffs Harbour area. Our school grounds contain:
- Smooth Barked Apple
- Turpentine Tree which was used to build the Coffs Harbour Jetty in 1892 as its timber contains a chemical that resists marine invertebrates and termites, and it is one of the most difficult timbers to ignite.
- Red GumTree
- Bloodwood Tree
- Tallowwood Tree
- Black Bean Tree which used to provide food to megafauna
One thing that was noticed by Nigel was that some of our trees had asphalt laid right up to their trunks which is actually killing the tree slowly. Some of the asphalt needs to be dug up to expose the soil and then covered with a layer of bark chips so the soil doesn’t become compacted. This will then allow vital moisture and nutrients to the small feeder roots of the trees aiding in their health and limiting dead branches.
Finally, the students’ and Nigel went for a walk to a small council reserve on City Hill where the two oldest trees in Coffs Harbour still stand. They are both scribbly gums and dated between 300-800 years old!
Mrs Booth