‘Get Outside and Grow’ for National Tree Day
Residents of the Southern Highlands will have an opportunity to make a difference to the local environment on Saturday 17 October at the National Tree Day Wingecarribee community planting event at Mittagong Creek in Bowral.
National Tree Day is an annual event organised by Planet Ark with each region given the option of scheduling it to suit their local conditions.
The site chosen for this year’s planting is located at the upper reaches of Mittagong Creek between McDonald and Bowral Streets.
Council’s Natural Resource Officer Paul Marshall said the event is a fantastic way for community volunteers to make a positive contribution to the local environment and their own health.
“National Tree Day is a call-to-action for all Australians to ‘Get Outside and Grow’ – for their own health, and for that of our local environment,” he said. “Last year more than 50 volunteers planted hundreds of native trees, shrubs and groundcovers along Whites Creek in Moss Vale.”
This year the team hopes to plant 2,000 native plants in a bid to improve the creek’s water quality and protect the surrounding banks.
“We’ll be pre-digging all the plant holes along the creek bank and we look forward to the positive results of the event, which will help to enrich local wildlife habitat and increase the stability of the creek bed,” Mr Marshall said.
Members of the community are invited to join Landcare members and staff from Wingecarribee Shire Council on Saturday the 17 October from 8.30am to help with the planting. The day will conclude with a free BBQ lunch provided by Bowral Lions Club.
Volunteers are asked to wear sun-smart clothing with sturdy footwear and bring gloves if they have them – tools, sunscreen and extra gloves will be available on the day.
The plants to be used are native species grown in Moss Vale by volunteers working at the Community Nursery.
All volunteers are required to sign in at the registration table on arrival at the event and are requested to register for the Tree Day beforehand if possible to assist with catering.
Access and parking to the site is available from McDonald Street off Bowral Street.
Further details about the event and how to register can be found on Council’s website www.wsc.nsw.gov.au/national-tree-day, or by phoning Council’s Natural Resource Officer on 4868 0772 or 0418 424 524.