On Thursday 13th June 2024, Greater Sydney Landcare’s Creating Canopies team hosted a corporate volunteering day for 17 AGL employees at Blakehurst’s Dover Park. This planting was run in partnership with Georges River Council.
The weather was perfect for a day outdoors, with cool morning temperatures giving way to a pleasant sunny day. The volunteers from AGL arrived ready to make a difference and made short work of digging hundreds of holes in the soft soil.
A Day of Impact
The plan for the day was planting 500 native trees and shrubs, however the AGL team’s energy and efficiency impressed the Creating Canopies team, who went and got more plants. By the end of the day, the AGL team had not only met but exceeded their target—installing a fantastic 690 plants. Amazing work everybody!
Planting for the Future
The plants installed by the AGL team included a diverse array of native species such as gum trees (Angophora and Eucalypts), banksias, wattles (Acacias), hop bushes (Dodonaeas), tea tree (Leptospermum), cheese tree (Glochidion ferdinandi), and other natives suited to the local area. These plants will provide vital habitat for local wildlife, improve air quality, and in time provide shade and cooling to help reduce urban heat.
In addition to planting, the volunteers also spread mulch throughout the planting area. This crucial step helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds, giving the young plants a better chance to establish and thrive.
Corporate Volunteering for a Good Cause
Corporate volunteering days like this one are beneficial for both the environment and the participants. Employees get the opportunity to step out of their regular work routines and connect with their teammates in a refreshing natural environment. Engaging in hands-on environmental work as a group fosters camaraderie among colleagues, while also delivering a tangible positive impact for nature.
Feedback from the volunteers was overwhelmingly positive, with one participant reflecting on the event: “Great venue outdoors, worthwhile cause, friendly and helpful staff.” Their favourite part? “Planting the trees outdoors during a sunny day.” They also shared that they learned during the event that, “All citizens need to do their part to take care of the environment as its balance can be quite fragile.”
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
Natural Resources Officer Bryce Doyle and Bush Regenerator Supervisor Aimee Hancock led the day. Aimee praised the AGL group, noting their hard work and positive attitudes.
A big thank you goes out to the AGL volunteers for their hard work and dedication, and to Georges River Council for providing the site and support needed to increase the canopy cover in the area.
Volunteer for Bushcare in Georges River
If you’d like to contribute to environmental efforts in the Georges River 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 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.
