Newcastle volunteers enhance environment on National Tree Day

City of Newcastle has today joined residents to mark National Tree Day with the planting of 7000 native wetland species at Tarro Reserve.

Planet Ark's National Tree Day started in 1996 and has grown into Australia's largest community tree planting and nature care event. It's a call to action for all Australians to get their hands dirty and give back to the community. This year, National Tree Day is Sunday 28th July. 

Newcastle volunteers dug deep to add a range of grasses, shrubs, and trees to an area of around 1400 square metres, helping to improve the health of the wetland and restore habitat for local fauna.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle has targeted areas in the western suburbs that experience hotter temperatures in summer for urban forest planting.

Lord Mayor Nelmes noted "as part of City of Newcastle's 10-year Environment Strategy we're aiming for 40% canopy cover by 2045 to help cool our city.

"That's why we planted more than 550 new street trees in Beresfield and Tarro in the past year, and also celebrated World Environment Day last month by planting 18 trees and 100 small native plants with students from Beresfield Public School."

Councillor Elizabeth Adamczyk said connecting with local residents to plant trees and learn about nature is a special way to mark the national event adding "today's event has many benefits including adding to Newcastle's biodiversity and vegetation cover, reducing urban heat, and beautifying a much-loved public space.

"City of Newcastle celebrates National Tree Day at a different location in Newcastle every year, with local schools, community and City of Newcastle staff in 2024 again pitching in to plant thousands of trees to improve our city's environmental health.

“Tarro Reserve is a valued community asset, with sports grounds, an off-leash dog area and recreation space for fishing and birdwatching, making it the ideal choice for our planting efforts to celebrate National Tree Day this year."

It wasn't all hard work in Tarro today, with other activities on offer including wetland tours, waterbug dip-netting and nature-based play, as well as an interactive stall with City of Newcastle's invasive species team and bush craft with Nuts About Nature.

National Tree Day is just one of many occasions where City of Newcastle staff have pulled on their gardening gloves with the community to help protect and enhance the natural environment this year.

During the past 12 months, Landcare volunteers, community members and City of Newcastle projects saw more than 125,000 native plants added to the city along coast, creeklines, beside wetlands and in bushland.

City of Newcastle's Natural Connections and community urban forest programs aim to connect residents and students with their local natural areas, including urban forests, wetlands and watercourses.

Involving the community can help locals become stewards of their environment, as well as enhance physical and mental wellbeing.

Image. Cr Deahnna Richardson and Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk with City of Newcastle staff and local community members at the National Tree Day planting at Tarro Reserve today. Credit: City of Newcastle.