Turf Australia and Landcare Australia are searching for the best “pitch” for your patch – with the launch today of the Perfect Pitch of Green – a continuation of a grants program for schools and youth groups wanting to green up their sporting field or reinvigorate an outdoor learning area.
With 2014 being the year of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Junior Landcare and the peak body for turf growers have come up with a new take on the in-kind grants program for freshly grown grass.
This year, 10 lucky schools will be chosen to receive natural turf covering an area of up to 200 square metres – the equivalent to the goalmouth of a standard sporting field. The grass can be used to update sports areas, enhance outdoor learning areas, or create more spaces for playing.

President and Board Member of Turf Australia Anthony Muscat said the program was all about increasing the health and wellbeing of Australian children by greening up schools and play spaces: “There are huge advantages in increasing grassed areas. Not only does natural grass encourage physical activity but it offers environmental benefits such as reducing CO2 levels and helping to keep areas cool*,”said Muscat.
 Tessa Jakszewicz, CEO of Landcare Australia, says the program is a great way to encourage outdoor learning: “We are delighted to be part of this Perfect Pitch of Green program, which will provide kids with inviting outside environments, where they can experience the benefits of time spent outdoors enjoying their natural environments, which is the aim of Junior Landcare.”
Previously called Perfect Patch of Green and entering its third year, the program seeks to encourage kids to have fun in outdoor spaces and learn about their environment in enjoyable ways by making over recreational areas with natural turf. Since 2012, the program has already resulted in 30 schools and youth groups across the country benefit from new turf, donated by a local turf grower, in their local area in need.
Applications for the 2014 Perfect Pitch of Green program close on 1 July 2014. More details can be found on the Junior Landcare website.