Boyup tree turns blue

Helen O’Connell, of Boyup Brook, has created the first of what she hopes will be many blue trees in Boyup Brook.

The blue tree on her farm in Mayanup is part of the Blue Tree Project which aims to raise awareness and reduce the stigma of mental health issues.

Mrs O’Connell was inspired to paint her tree blue by the absence of a blue tree in the Boyup Brook shire.

“I realised there wasn’t a blue tree in the area, I don’t think there is one in Bridgetown or Boyup Brook,”

“I just thought that Boyup Brook needs a blue tree.”

The tree the O’Connells chose to paint is about 20m tall and required them to use a scissor lift to paint 9m of the tree’s trunk blue.

Mrs O’Connell encouraged members of the community to check on their neighbours.

“I’m just very aware that when we have no rain and a lot of farmers are isolated, mental health is very important,” she said.

The Blue Tree project now includes 427 reported trees worldwide.