On the 27th and 28th of September 2024, Greater Sydney Landcare hosted two tree planting events at Western Sydney Universityβs Hawkesbury campus in Richmond.
These events were part of an exciting three-year partnership between Greater Sydney Landcare and WSU, aimed at planting 30,000 native trees and shrubs on campus from 2023 to 2025. Creating Canopies successfully installed 10,000 plants at the WSU Hawkesbury Campus in 2023.
Despite the wet weather, around 15 dedicated volunteers joined us over the two days in 2024 to install 4,000 native plants.
The enthusiastic groups installed a variety of native plants including gum trees (eucalypts, corymbias), wattles (acacias), paperbarks (melaleucas), tea trees (leptospermums), hop bushes (dodonaeas), Australian Indigo, Rice Flower, Sweet Bursaria, Gorse Bitter-pea, and Narrow-leafed Drumsticks as well as others suited to this area.
The first event on Friday was reserved for WSU staff and students, while Saturday welcomed the broader community.
Volunteers from all walks of life, including lecturers, birdwatchers, and families, came together with a shared passion for greening our region. Their hard work and commitment truly shone through, helping to ensure the success of these plantings.
These small, intimate groups allowed for meaningful conversations and connections as volunteers worked side by side. The Greater Sydney Landcare team enjoyed meeting everyone and appreciated the strong sense of community that emerged over the two days.
Thank you to everyone who braved the rain and contributed to creating a greener, cooler future for Greater Sydney.
We would like to extend a special thank you to Western Sydney University for generously providing their land to help increase canopy cover.
The trees and shrubs planted will grow to over three metres, creating valuable canopy cover and a mid-storey layer that will support local wildlife. These new trees will also contribute to much-needed shade and evaporative cooling, helping to reduce the urban heat island effect across Greater Sydney.
Volunteer for Bushcare in the Hawkesbury
If youβd like to contribute to environmental efforts in the Hawkesbury LGA, you can become a Bushcare volunteer and regenerate bushland. No experience is necessary as training is provided.
Get Involved in Creating Canopies
If youβd 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 Landcareβs Eventbrite page.
Find out more about Corporate Volunteering with Greater Sydney Landcare here. Be sure to download our Corporate Volunteering Info Pack.
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.
