It’s 2024 and Greater Sydney Landcare and Landcare NSW will once again be partnering to plant trees in Greater Sydney. We’re excited to continue Creating Canopies! This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government.
In October 2022, Creating Canopies planted tubestock for 5,000 trees and shrubs at Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury campus in Richmond. This is what they looked like in December 2023! 
In October 2022, Creating Canopies planted tubestock for 5,000 trees and shrubs at Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury campus in Richmond. This is what they looked like in December 2023!
The 2024 Plan
Over summer, the Creating Canopies team has been monitoring the plantings undertaken in 2023. We’ve also been working with landowners on follow up maintenance like weeding to ensure the best possible survival rates.
After summer ends, planting will resume. We will be planting from March to November.
Follow us on Eventbrite and you’ll be notified when we list new planting events.
Planting in the cooler months of the year gives the plants a better chance at establishing so that they can thrive.
Right: As of December 2023, all plants showed great signs of growth, with some upwards of 1 metre tall.
About Creating Canopies
The first stage of the Creating Canopies project saw Greater Sydney Landcare and Landcare NSW plant 100,000 trees across Greater Sydney between 2020 and 2022. This work was proudly funded by the NSW Government.
2023 saw NSW Government funding for Creating Canopies increased and its scope widened. Greater Sydney Landcare and Landcare NSW were re-engaged to deliver the planting of 200,000 trees across Greater Sydney between 2023 and 2025.
In 2023 Creating Canopies planted just over 59,000 trees, so we’ve got plenty more to plant.
2024 marks the second year of our Creating Canopies Stage 2 project.
We’re planting native trees and shrubs that will grow to 3 metres and above, to create canopies.
We’re planting in Local Government Areas of Sydney that have less than 30% canopy cover.
We’re planting trees to help reduce urban heat.
Right: In December 2023, all the plants had demonstrated healthy rates of growth and had clearly established well on site. This site will benefit from the rich diversity in species now represented along this planted band.
What is Urban Heat?
Did you know that it’s actually hotter in our cities than it is in bushland or paddocks?
That is because plants in green spaces can absorb water and slowly evaporate it back out again.
The ‘grey spaces’ of our cities, like roads, car parks, bricks, pavers, and buildings, do not absorb or evaporate water in the same way. Most of the water runs off into our stormwater system or is quickly evaporated once the sun is out again.
Materials used in our buildings and infrastructure also absorb and radiate more heat than natural environments, making our cities hotter than natural or rural environments.
Built up areas also stay hotter at night than green spaces, which tends to be worse for our health.
Right: The plantings were growing well in January 2024.
Why Are We Planting Trees?
We’re planting trees to increase canopy cover in Greater Sydney.
As these trees grow, they will provide shade but also cooling in the form of transpiration.
You’ve heard of evaporation – when water changes from a liquid to a gas. The water on surfaces turns into water vapor, which rises into the air.
Transpiration is a similar process. Plants pull water that seeps into the soil in through their roots and release it through tiny holes in their leaves.
Transpiration brings air temperatures down. Trees are like nature’s air conditioners!
Light intensity, temperature, humidity and wind speed affect the rate of transpiration. When it is hot with very little water available, trees can shut down their transpiration to preserve water. So trees need water when it’s hot!
Trees, through providing shade and transpiration, make it more comfortable for us to be outside.
Right: Blacktown Showgrounds plantings in December 2023.
The Benefits of Trees
Trees are not the only answer to cooling our cities, and many other strategies are needed.
There are things we can do at home, like painting our rooves white to reflect heat, keeping mature trees wherever we can, and using real grass and plants instead of AstroTurf or concrete and pavers in our yards.
Amongst other strategies, trees can help reduce surface temperatures and provide many additional benefits as well.
Trees provide cleaner air, reduce noise pollution, improve soil and water quality, and provide habitat for wildlife.
Green spaces are associated with increased physical activity, better physical health, lower stress levels, greater community satisfaction, and mental health benefits.
Trees beautify an area and make it more accessible and useful to the community. We’re more likely to walk outside, picnic on the grass or let our kids play in a playground when we can do it in an area that’s shaded rather than in the full glare of the sun.
Studies show that in neighbourhoods with a tree canopy of 30% or more, people have lower odds of developing a range of health issues including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and psychological distress.
So all in all, we love trees. And that’s why you’re invited to come and plant trees with us to create canopies in 2024!
Stay tuned for our upcoming events. We’re working now to lock in planting dates for March and beyond.
Details of our events will be on our website but also our Eventbrite, email newsletter, Facebook, and Instagram. We can’t wait to plant with you again.
Right: In November 2023 the planting was looking fantastic!
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.
