With more than 3,000 trees ready to leave the Wollongong Botanic Garden’s nursery, we’re encouraging everyone to get their hands dirty this weekend for ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Tree Day.
The small tube stock trees are destined for seven school and three community tree planting sites as part of Council’s support of Planet Ark’s ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Tree Day.
Today, Tuesday 23 July, to mark Council’s ongoing support of the day Wollongong Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM has planted an established fig tree near the playground in Stuart Park. The tree is five years old and has a lifespan that exceeds more than 100 years.
“³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Tree Day is an important event as it puts trees front and centre of conversations and the new fig tree in Stuart Park recognises the significance of this ongoing focus,” Wollongong Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.
“We are passionate about our trees in this City. Protecting the environment is one of the key focuses for our Community Strategic Plan, Wollongong 2028, and Council is proud of its Urban Greening Strategy which looks to increase our City’s tree canopy cover and support the greening of the City.
“The ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Tree Day events are a practical way people can come out and support our Urban Greening Strategy. Plus, they’re also an opportunity to connect with nature and the local community and do something for the good of everyone.”
³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Tree Day has been celebrated since 1996 and this year, as in previous years, Council’s supporting Schools ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Tree Events on Friday 26 July and three community plantings on Sunday 28 July.
For the school planting day staff from the Wollongong Botanic Garden will work with students from Unanderra, Lakelands, Russell Vale, Coniston, Tarrawanna, Port Kembla and Cringila primary schools to plant 300 trees in their grounds. Council staff will also help with a tree-planting session on public land near Dapto High School.
“It’s great to have so many schools involved in this event,” Cr Bradbery said.
“We know young people are active and passionate about our environment and their participation is key to creating a world that’s able to deal with the impacts of climate change.”
On Sunday, Council staff will be working at three sites where community members are welcome to come along and help plant species including eucalypts, wattles and casuarinas as well as other local native species.
The sites are on O’Briens Road, Figtree (from 10am-1pm, adjacent to the Princes Highway on America Creek), Hooka Point, Berkeley (from 11am-2pm near Holborn Street carpark) and at the regeneration site at Wollongong’s Greenhouse Park, Coniston (from 10am-2pm).
“I’d encourage all those who are passionate about the environment to come along and plant a tree,” Cr Bradbery said.
“Together we can make Wollongong a greener place to live and activities like these are always enjoyable community gatherings.”
