At the peak of January’s widespread bushfires an army of volunteers gathered at the McLaren Vale Natives to plant 30,000 seedlings — valued at nearly $100,000 — for propagating and donating to affected communities in autumn.

‘Revegetation for a Cause – Bushfire Relief’ is a partnership between McLaren Vale Natives and McLaren Vale Biodiversity Project, which was launched to help heal devastated landscapes across Adelaide Hills, Kangaroo Island and Yorke Peninsula.

For Tash — one of the 550 volunteers who came from the Fleurieu, greater Adelaide and interstate — the event was a practical way to express her support.

“I’d been feeling a bit helpless about the state of the country and went through the motions of donating some money and clothes, but I wanted to do something a little more hands on and saw this pop up on my Facebook feed, so I came along.

“It’s the least I can do, and it’s been nice to be gardening for a cause.”

McLaren Vale Natives, Rob Laffer (pictured above), says the community response to the social media call out was “fantastic” with the event raising “in dollar terms about $100,000”.

“The goal was to prepare 10,000 tubulars but we tripled that, which will help revegetate areas to bring them back to where they were,” he said.

An important part of the project is that the donated plants are indigenous to specific regions, so if Eucalyptus leucoxylon was lost on Kangaroo Island, a Eucalyptus leucoxylon would replace it.

“These are species taken from seed from regions before the fires,” says Jock Harvey, McLaren Vale Biodiversity Project.

“Obviously, we all feel for those regions, and we hope these plants will help rebuild landscapes and communities, and of course habitat for the native fauna.”

The working bee finished with a barbecue courtesy of the Rotary Club of McLaren Vale as well as Mish and Wade from Southern Koala Rescue introducing young buck Harry and orphaned Itty Bitty to the delighted volunteers.

Revegetation for a Cause welcomes support. For more information visit facebook.com/mclarenvalebdp.