Children do their bit for National Tree Day

MA Media Release, 19 July 2011
Mission Australia’s Elizabeth Vale Early Learning Service (ELS), in South Australia, is supporting this year’s National Tree Day by holding a tree-planting event on Friday, July 29.

A recent study, commissioned by Planet Ark ahead of National Tree Day on July 31, found only 35 per cent of children play outside daily. A generation earlier, 64 per cent of children enjoyed climbing trees, playing hopscotch, skipping and exploring nature on a regular basis.

“The lack of outdoor activity reduces opportunities for social and physical development,” said ELS Regional Manager, Laura Francis.

“Outdoor play encourages problem-solving and use of imagination.

“This event is a fun and practical way for children to learn about trees and the role they play in the environment.

“It takes as little as four minutes in a natural environment to reduce stress, improve mood and steady the vital signs.

“Mission Australia plans to ‘naturalise’ the environment of the Elizabeth Vale ELS through the addition of gardens, replacing plastic equipment with timber and using paint hues inspired by nature.

“We want to address the increasing disconnect between children and nature,” she said.

Media contact: Renae Sullivan – (08) 8211 7771 or 0438 980 636