My name is Mark Allaway, landscape architect and volunteer environmental project manager, assisting community-based projects to realize their environmental goals. In collaboration with Global Tree Initiative (GTI), a voluntary global network of tree planters and land restorers ( https://plantgrowsave.org ), I am planning an indigenous tree planting project at the Daylesford Dharma School, from October 2025 to April 2026.

The school is an independent, not-for-profit primary school located in Central Victoria on the traditional country of the First Nations Dja Dja Wurrung, at Daylesford. It was established on an 8-hectare, open grassland site in 2019 and has 30 enrolments from Year 1 to Year 6. Daylesford Dharma School is the first registered primary school in Australia to teach the Australian Curriculum guided by Buddhist philosophy. The school has a unique daily awareness program that builds a culture of student self-awareness based on mindfulness, meditation and connection to nature.

As an award-winning school for sustainability, through its Bush School curriculum, the school nurtures a deep connection between children and the natural world. This holistic approach to education develops passionate and confident learners and young custodians of the land.

The aims of the Daylesford Dharma School and GTI’s mission of “creating a conscious, wise, warm-hearted world of peace, where people respect and live in harmony with animals and the environment” are perfectly aligned for this project. This planting project is a unique opportunity to contribute to a progressive educational environment and make a difference to our environmental quality of life.

The planting project will be led onsite by a small group of senior students who are already actively involved in environmental studies through their Bush School curriculum. The works will be integrated into the existing School Master Plan and be coordinated with a new playground and adventure bicycle track which the students have been actively planning and designing. The planting will also assist with moderating the environmental impacts of strong seasonal winds and sun exposure across the school grounds.

Subject to further discussion, the planting approach involves several densely planted mulched beds, using an ecological approach. This technique adopts a full range of plant species of ground covers, climbers, grasses, tussocks, rushes, lilies, small and medium shrubs and small trees. The design uses high-density plantings at 2-3 plants per square metre, underplanted and interplanted with some existing trees, planted individually into existing grassed areas.

The planting works will be offered to the school at no cost to the school and this GoFundMe appeal will fully fund the estimated works budget of $3500. The funds raised will be directed to purchasing up to 500 tube stock plants from a local indigenous nursery, together with associated materials of soil conditioner, mulch, tree guards, stakes and protective fencing, as well as machinery hire. Earthworks to control existing pasture and weed growth will be necessary as this project will not be using herbicide to establish the planting beds. Some funds will also be used to offset part of the School’s irrigation water costs during tree and shrub establishment over late spring and summer.

This project is a new innovation for GTI in Australia, using crowd funding to support a worthy recipient organization. It will build on the 120 self-funded, individual planting projects that GTI supporters have already established since 2019. I am hoping that this project model can be applied to other sites and communities into the future. We have successfully used the GoFundMe platform to undertake two recent appeal campaigns: Fundraiser by Mark Allaway : Walk for the Trees 2023, Fundraiser by Mark Allaway : Traditional Welcome to Dja Dja Wurrung Country 2024.

Your generosity can achieve a real change on the ground. Based on our budget, a $7 donation to our appeal will plant one tree, including all associated site works. A $50 donation plants 7 trees. A key species in the design is Blackwood, a type of acacia or wattle. In the local Wombat State Forest, this tree grows to 15 metres tall and can live for 150 years. So your donation is a gift to future generations!

This project is essential for a growing and developing school community. The guided student contribution and ownership of this project is one of its key strengths and ensures the works will be managed and cared for, into the future. I encourage you to consider supporting this project that will enhance student learning and welfare for years to come. This new generation of young people are our most precious asset and they are highly motivated to build a sustainable school setting in their local community.

This project offers a chance to make a real difference one tree or ten trees at a time. It is up to you. We hope you share our commitment for restoring our environment.

Disclaimer: No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.