More than 80 people helped plant 400 trees along the recently cleared bank of the river in Mount Pleasant as part of National Tree Day. 

Leigh Catchment Group and Friends of the Yarrowee River member Jane Bevelander said the aim of the Breathing Life Back into the Yarrowee project was to revegetate the site where willows and blackberries had been removed.

“As quickly as possible we want to try and get indigenous plants in before the weeds get in,” she said.

“Weeds get in and bring rabbits and foxes, whereas indigenous plants create habitats for birds and frogs.

“A big part of this project was also about making people care for the area.”

Ms Bevelander said a number of local indigenous species which were originally found near the river during settlement had been replanted, with work still continuing to maintain the area over the next year.