Welcome to Healthy Habitat for Schools

Land management plan

It's important to begin your biodiversity projects by preparing a land management plan. This template gives the whole school a guide to care for the grounds. A plan collates everything known about the gardens and outlines future plans. Healthy Habitat created this land management plan for semi rural properties and we have specifically adapted it to schools.  

Selecting the perfect plants

Once your school has completed a land management plan you will then be looking for plants to suit your properties' needs.

We have collated a list of native trees specifically appropriate for the Townsville region.  They are known to be tough, hardy and perfect for the dry tropics conditions.

In the coastal regions of the dry tropics it is important for land owners and councils to plant trees that are cyclone resistant.  Included in our tool kit is a list of trees that have the highest resistance to cyclones (it also includes important characteristics like drought and flood tolerance).

Also attached here is a list of trees perfect for providing safe and shady areas for students and the school community. 

There are many plants that may not be suitable for your school yard.  For example some branches might easily break or have spikey thorns, require a lot of maintenance because they lose leaves, drop sap or produce allergens such as pollen. Some plants can also be poisonous and should not be planted in or near school grounds.  The fact sheet about poisonous plants lists species that can be found in the dry tropics.

To increase the biodiversity of the school yard you can plant trees that attract native animals such as birds and butterflies.  Use our fact sheet when selecting animal attracting plants.

Companion planting can increase the school garden’s biodiversity.  It is a great way to work with nature rather than against it.  Our fact sheet is your A-Z guide to companion planting.

Grounds safety

Be sun smart!  Utilise shade, have appropriate uniforms, wear hats and sunscreen and consider the appropriate times for outdoor activities. 

Other safety precautions to consider:

• Use of protective clothing including footwear
• Tool and equipment safety
• Physical capabilities
• Safe handling of heavy objects
• Students should work in pairs or groups

Visit www.dialbeforeyoudig.com.au to request information for your site or call Dial Before You Dig on 1100.

Are there lights or powerlines above your site? How tall and wide will your trees grow?  The minimum distance between a telegraph pole and the trunk of a fully grown tree is 4 metres.  For more information see the Ergon Energy Plant Smart program at: http://www.ergon.com.au/community--and--our-network/trees-and-powerlines/plant-smart

Check with the local council for your local planting guidelines, especially if you intend to plant on the council nature strip. 

How to plant and maintain your trees

Guidelines for testing and preparing your soil, digging holes appropriate to the size and future expected growth of your plant, and many other useful tips are available in our fact sheets.

Weeds and pests

Pest plants and animals are two of the biggest threats to biodiversity in Australia. There are over 1166 species of introduced plants in Queensland that can cause serious environmental problems. 

If you can recognise pest plants and animals in your school grounds you are able to act quickly and effectively.

Cultural values and uses

Traditional Owners are the original custodians of land and sea country.  There are 16 Traditional Owner groups in the dry tropics region.  Click here to learn more about the groups are in your school area.

If you would like to create a cultural garden such as a bush tucker garden our fact sheet will be useful.

Water and energy conservation

Did you know your revegetation projects can actually help you save water and energy at your school?

Funding

Many funding opportunities can support your school’s biodiversity projects.  We have information about current grants and awards.

Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variety of all life on earth. It includes the different animals, plants, their genes, and the marine, freshwater and land ecosystems that they inhabit. There are many threats to land biodiversity including land clearing, pollution, changed fire regimes, introduced or pest animals and plants, habitat fragmentation and climate change.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature reports that the world’s current extinction rate is between 1,000 and 10,000 times higher that it naturally would be. It is the largest mass extinction since the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. Unfortunately Australia has one of the highest rates of extinction in the world.

School communities can make a difference for biological diversity by protecting and increasing their native habitats and through sustainability education.

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