Grassroots Grants growing KI’s future

News article | 01 April 2026

Hundreds of native plants will soon take root across the Dudley Peninsula — grown by the next generation of Kangaroo Island environmental stewards.

Grassroots Grants growing KI’s future — Friends of Dudley Peninsula Parks and Wildlife member Joe Relic with KICE Penneshaw students Jaspen, Ryan and Thomas who will take part in the native seedling project.

The Friends of Dudley Peninsula Parks and Wildlife were awarded funding through the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board’s Grassroots Grants program to establish a student-led native seedling project at the KICE Penneshaw Campus.

The initiative will see students aged 9–12 grow between 500 and 1,000 native seedlings each year, which will be planted in local conservation areas across the Dudley Peninsula.

Project lead Joe Relic, 35, of Penneshaw, will oversee the construction of an irrigated greenhouse at the school in April, providing a dedicated space for students to propagate locally collected seeds.

“I'm really looking forward to getting the greenhouse up and running — it’s a great opportunity for students to learn practical skills while contributing to the environment,” Mr Relic said.

“I joined the Friends of Dudley Peninsula Parks and Wildlife as a volunteer when I first moved to the island because I wanted to learn more about native flora. The group was looking for more members, and this project is a great way to bring the next generation into that work.

“We identified that starting with schools is key — helping kids understand their local environment and inspiring them to care for it.

“In the long term, many of these students come from farming families. The more they understand the natural landscape, the better equipped they’ll be to make informed land management decisions in the future.”

The greenhouse will support the propagation of seeds collected locally, helping to ensure plants are suited to Kangaroo Island conditions. It will also contribute to the school’s vegetable garden, linking environmental education with broader sustainability outcomes.

Kangaroo Island Landscape Board Chair Andrew Heinrich said the project is exactly what Grassroots Grants are designed to support.

“This is a fantastic example of community-led action delivering real environmental outcomes,” Mr Heinrich said.

“It’s about empowering local people — especially young people — to care for the landscapes we all depend on.”

🌱 Grassroots Grants Now Open

The Kangaroo Island Landscape Board is encouraging landholders, community groups and organisations to apply for the next round of Grassroots Grants, with funding now open to support practical, community-led environmental projects.

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