In the 1990s, the area surrounding Bacchus Marsh in the Rowsley Valley and Pentland Hills were slowly being turned into a wasteland. Rabbits, erosion, salinity and serrated tussock were taking over the natural landscape mostly due to the clearing of land for agriculture.

Seeing the devastation unfold, local landholders in conjunction with Landcare groups, government agencies and the Moorabool Shire donned their boots and gloves, picked up their shovels and began the Grow West project to revegetate the land.

Since 2003, over 1,000,000 trees have been planted in the upper reaches of the Werribee catchment to help rejuvenate 10,000 hectares of land. On Friday 3rd August 2012, Michael Love mustered 69 Year 8 students from Bacchus Marsh Grammar and joined an army of over 300 volunteers to plant 10,000 trees along Myrniong Creek as part of the Myrniong and Korkuperrimul Creek Biolink Project. This has continued BMGs involvement in the local community and the project, with a number of groups helping out on tree planting days in the past organised by Leonie Brown in conjunction with the Pentland Hills Landcare Group.

What an amazing and inspiring sight to see so many people caring for the community and the environment!

For more about the Grow West project go to:http://www.growwest.com.au/