On Friday 21st of June 2024, Greater Sydney Landcareβs Creating Canopies team hosted 13 employees from a Corporate Partner for a corporate volunteering day at Eastwoodβs Jim Walsh Park. This planting day was held in partnership with the City of Ryde.
The corporate volunteers, equipped with gardening gloves, kneeling pads and trowels, planted 800 native trees and shrubs into the soft soil on the day.
These new additions will enhance the mid-story layer of the parkβs already existing canopy trees, creating habitat for local wildlife including small birds.
Notably, the trees planted were part of the critically endangered Blue Gum High Forest ecological community, of which less than 3% of its former extent remains today.
The weather favoured the volunteers, as the chilly morning quickly warmed up and provided an ideal day for planting. In between installing plants and watering them in, the team enjoyed fresh fruit for morning tea and Subway sandwiches for lunch, keeping energy levels and spirits high throughout the day.
For the corporate volunteers, the planting day offered numerous benefits including doing something positive for the environment. It fostered team bonding and collaboration, allowing colleagues to work together outside their usual office (or home office) environment. Engaging in meaningful, hands-on activities together increased the teamβs connection and satisfaction. The day also provided an opportunity to develop new skills and knowledge about local ecology and conservation efforts, enriching both their personal and professional lives.
One volunteer when asked what their favourite part of the day was, responded: “Supporting the environment and understanding the impact we are making, learning gardening tips along the way, engagement with work colleagues you haven’t met before and being outdoors.”
Creating Canopies Project Manager Danielle Packer led the day, along with Natural Resources Manager Bryce Doyle, Bush Regenerator Supervisor Aimee Hancock and Bush Regenerator Rhiannon Beaton. The Creating Canopies team provided their expertise and guidance to ensure the planting was effective, enjoyable and educational for the volunteers.
Thanks to all who were involved in making this day a reality. Together we are creating a greener, cooler and more resilient urban environment for future generations.
Volunteer for Bushcare in Ryde
If youβd like to contribute to environmental efforts in the Ryde LGA, you can become a Bushcare volunteer and regenerate bushland. No experience is necessary as training is provided.
Corporate Volunteering with Greater Sydney Landcare
Find out more about Corporate Volunteering with Greater Sydney Landcare here. Be sure to download our Corporate Volunteering Info Pack.
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.
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.
