Did you come planting with Creating Canopies in Blacktown in 2023?
Have a look at how much the seedlings have grown!
Below are monitoring photos from Holy Family Catholic Parish in Emerton, planted October 2023, and Harvey Park, planted in April 2023.
UPDATE: Planting at Holy Family Catholic Parish in Emerton
Saturday 28th October 2023 saw Creating Canopies and over 35 volunteers plant more than 1,880 native trees and shrubs at Holy Family Catholic Parish in Emerton, in the Blacktown Local Government Area.
Special thanks go out to the Dawoodi Bohra community group and Miss Earth Australia 2023 Helen Latukefu who planted with us on the day. We were also pleased to be joined by local Councillor Brad Bunting, who planted a ceremonial tree and spoke about the fantastic partnership between Blacktown City Council and Creating Canopies.
Thank you to the Dawoodi Bohra group for joining our Emerton planting in October 2023. 
Helen Latukefu, Miss Earth Australia 2023, planted with us at multiple events including at Emerton in October 2023 and helped to promote Creating Canopies. 
Blacktown City Councillor Brad Bunting joined the Creating Canopies tree planting and spoke about our partnership efforts. 
The weather was perfect for installing almost 2,000 plants – not too hot or cold. 
Thank you to the Dawoodi Bohra community for joining this planting. 
Thank you to the Dawoodi Bohra community for joining this planting. 
Young and old alike enjoyed planting at Emerton in October 2023.
Our Natural Resources Manager Esteban Zepeda visited the Emerton site about a month after planting and reported a survival rate for the plants of 87%.
The tubestock planted at Holy Family Catholic Parish in Emerton grew over the summer. 
The tubestock planted at Holy Family Catholic Parish in Emerton grew over the summer. 
The tubestock planted at Holy Family Catholic Parish in Emerton grew over the summer. 
The tubestock planted at Holy Family Catholic Parish in Emerton grew over the summer. 
The tubestock planted at Holy Family Catholic Parish in Emerton grew over the summer. 
The tubestock planted at Holy Family Catholic Parish in Emerton grew over the summer.
Esteban said, “Exterior plantings are performing very well, with plant establishment looking stable and moderate signs of growth now showing, and only minor losses. The interior area is also largely successful.”
The photos above are from a maintenance visit by Natural Resources Officer Bryce Doyle in February 2024.
UPDATE: Harvey Park
On Saturday 22 April 2023, over 40 volunteers joined Creating Canopies to celebrate Earth Day. Together we planted an amazing 1,800 native trees and shrubs at Marayong’s Harvey Park, in the Blacktown LGA.
As they mature, these trees will help cool this major sports precinct and make it a more enjoyable space for the local community.
The Lions Club ran a free barbeque for all who attended and we were pleased to be joined by a large contingent from the We Are One volunteering group.
Harvey Park after Creating Canopies and volunteers planted 1,800 native trees and shrubs for Earth Day 2023. 
Volunteers from the We Are One group joined Creating Canopies in April 2023 to plant at Harvey Park. 
Volunteers from the We Are One group joined Creating Canopies in April 2023 to plant at Harvey Park. 
Natural Resources Officer Bryce Doyle demonstrating how to plant at Harvey Park in April 2023. 
Volunteers from the We Are One group joined Creating Canopies in April 2023 to plant at Harvey Park. 
Volunteers from the We Are One group joined Creating Canopies in April 2023 to plant at Harvey Park. 
Volunteers from the We Are One group joined Creating Canopies in April 2023 to plant at Harvey Park. 
Volunteers from the We Are One group joined Creating Canopies in April 2023 to plant at Harvey Park. 
Greater Sydney Landcare’s Matt Keighery and We Are One volunteers had lots of fun planting at Harvey Park in 2023.
Greater Sydney Landcare’s Natural Resources Manager Esteban Zepeda visited the site in December 2023.
Natural Resources Manager Esteban Zepeda for size comparison to the plants! 
Parts of this planting have put on some good growth. 
Parts of this planting have put on some good growth. 
Parts of this planting have put on some good growth. 
Parts of this planting have put on some good growth. 
Parts of this planting have put on some good growth.
Esteban said, “[the] plantings across the road facing edge of the reserve have performed well, showing great signs of establishing on site. The reserve facing side is showing much lower rates of growth potentially due to the consistent shade it receives.”
He also noted, “The open planted area to the north-west shows much better survival rates with minor patches of die back and disappearance.”
Thank you to all involved in these plantings! We can’t wait to plant with you again.
Become a Blacktown Bushcare Volunteer
If you’d like to contribute to environmental efforts in Blacktown, you can become a Bushcare volunteer and regenerate bushland. No experience is necessary as training is provided.
Get Involved in Creating Canopies
If you’d like to find out how to get free trees planted on your land, visit our Register Your Site for Trees page.
Come along and plant trees with Creating Canopies. Find out what events we have coming up on Greater Sydney Landcare’s Eventbrite page.
About Creating Canopies
Landcare NSW and Greater Sydney Landcare are planting 200,000 trees as part of the Greening our City program to help reduce urban heat in Greater Sydney. Proudly funded by the NSW Government.
