On Saturday 28th October, the Creating Canopies team set up bright and early at Holy Family Catholic Parish in Emerton near Mt Druitt.
On the agenda for the day was the planting of 1,880 trees and shrubs across two planting areas on the grounds. The first site off Emert Parade had space for 1,200 plants and the second off Luxford Road was ready for the remaining 680 plants. Both areas had been prepared in advance with the holes dug and mulch spread, ready for volunteers to come and plant on the day.
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We were pleased to welcome back some volunteers who’d planted with us before. -
We were pleased to welcome back some volunteers who’d planted with us before. -
We were pleased to welcome back some volunteers who’d planted with us before.
A Great Group of Tree Planters
We had almost full bookings for this event. Thank you to all that joined us on the day. We were thrilled to welcome back a number of repeat volunteers who have planted with us at events before, and grateful to those who made a special effort to travel two hours by public transport to come and join us.
We send a special shout out to the Dawoodi Bohra community group, who came from Auburn to plant with us. Tasneem Baquari who volunteered on the day said, “I belong to the Dawoodi Bohra community and approximately 40 members of the community attended the tree planting event to honour the 80th birthday of our community leader, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin TUS, and his passion for the natural environment.”
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Thank you to the Dawoodi Bohra community for joining this planting. -
Thank you to the Dawoodi Bohra community for joining this planting. -
Thank you to the Dawoodi Bohra community for joining this planting.
Miss Earth Australia 2023, Helen Latukefu, planted with us on the day. Helen is a keen conservationist, who holds a Bachelor of Science majoring in Ecology and works in community education promoting water conservation. Helen is a keen advocate for the Creating Canopies program, encouraging volunteers to join in the hands on environmental work of planting trees in Greater Sydney. Thank you Helen for your support!
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Helen Latukefu, Miss Earth Australia 2023, planted with us on the day and is helping to promote Creating Canopies. -
We’re grateful to all of our fantastic tree planting volunteers who made the day so fun. -
We’re grateful to all of our fantastic tree planting volunteers who made the day so fun. -
We’re grateful to all of our fantastic tree planting volunteers who made the day so fun.
The positive attitude and enthusiasm of all of our volunteers made it a pleasure, and made the day fly. Thanks to all who came for your time, effort, smiles, laughter and willing hands.
We’re extremely grateful to Holy Family Catholic Parish for volunteering their land as a site for these new trees. Thank you especially to Ray, Father Greg, Sue Martin, and Malia Lolesio from Holy Family for their support in making this day happen.
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The weather was perfect for installing almost 2,000 plants – not too hot or cold. -
The weather was perfect for installing almost 2,000 plants – not too hot or cold. -
The weather was perfect for installing almost 2,000 plants – not too hot or cold.
Greening Blacktown
Councillor Brad Bunting of Blacktown City Council joined us at lunch to talk about the importance of tree planting in the City to combat urban heat. Creating Canopies Project Officer Laura Parent spoke about the Creating Canopies project and its partnership with Blacktown City Council during 2023.
Blacktown City Council has been a phenomenal partner to Creating Canopies. In 2023, Creating Canopies ran eight tree planting events at five parks and reserves in the Blacktown Local Government Area. Over 550 volunteers gave their time to plant over 12,000 trees at these events. We also funded trees for the Council’s National Tree Day plantings. We’re proud to work together to help tackle urban heat and create healthier and greener suburbs for the community.
From Planting to Wildlife Rescue
During the day the volunteers noticed a baby Little Lorikeet sitting at the base of a tree on the side of our first planting site. The little green bird with a red face was not moving much, so we kept an eye on it and ending up giving WIRES a call, who directed us to take it to a local vet for care. Thank you to Colyton Veterinary Hospital for taking in the baby bird and we hope that it can be returned to where it was found once it recovers, if possible.
Join Blacktown’s Bushcare Program
If you’d like to contribute to environmental efforts in the Blacktown area, you can volunteer to become a Blacktown City Council Bushcare volunteer, and regenerate bushland. No experience is necessary as training is provided.
Get Involved in Creating Canopies
Find out more about Corporate Volunteering with Greater Sydney Landcare here. Be sure to download our Corporate Volunteering Info Pack.
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.
