Did you come along and plant trees with Creating Canopies in 2023? Do you ever think about the little tree babies you planted and wonder what happened to them?
During 2023, Creating Canopies held 66 planting events and—thanks to our amazing volunteers—got 59,380 new native trees and shrubs planted across Greater Sydney.
But we don’t just plant and forget. We water in the plants once a week for four weeks after planting and also revisit sites in the months after to check survival rates, weed incursion and any damage that might have occurred due to weather or other issues. We organise replanting if necessary.
During summer, Creating Canopies staff have been busy bees visiting the sites planted in 2023. Here are a few of highlights from our recent monitoring visits.
UPDATE: Grey Gums Oval, Cranebrook Planting
Creating Canopies teamed up with Penrith City Council at Grey Gums Oval in Cranebrook on Saturday 11th November 2023, bringing 25 volunteers together to plant 500 new trees and shrubs in the park.
Our Natural Resources Manager Esteban Zepeda visited the site in late January 2024 and said, “This planting has been highly successful with a 95% success rate and great signs of growth and establishment from plants on site. Minor weed incursions have begun pushing through the mulch on site, however regular maintenance will be sufficient in supressing the invasive species present on site.”
“A buffer zone has also been established around the planting, though it is worth noting there are a number of native groundcover species emerging around the perimeter.”
UPDATE: Campbelltown Hospital Community Planting
On Saturday 3rd of June 2023, Creating Canopies and 12 volunteers planted 400 trees and shrubs on the grounds of Campbelltown Hospital. We thought it was great way to celebrate World Environment Day and we’re pleased to report that these plants are doing well.
Esteban visited Campbelltown Hospital for monitoring and maintenance in late January 2024, and said “This planting has been greatly successful, with upwards of 95% survival rate. The plants are consistently above 1 to 1.5 metres in height and have established well on site.”
In January 2024, the Campbelltown Hospital planting done by volunteers with Creating Canopies was growing well. Photo: Esteban Zepeda. 
In January 2024, the Campbelltown Hospital planting done by volunteers with Creating Canopies was growing well. Photo: Esteban Zepeda. 
In January 2024, the Campbelltown Hospital planting done by volunteers with Creating Canopies was growing well. Photo: Esteban Zepeda. 
In January 2024, the Campbelltown Hospital planting done by volunteers with Creating Canopies was growing well. Photo: Esteban Zepeda.
“Weed incursions on site have also been consistent, however the weeds on site have posed little threat to the guarded plants and have been consistently sprayed during the course of multiple maintenance visits.” Ongoing maintenance to address the weeds was discussed with the landowner.
UPDATE: Nelson Planting in the Hills with Get Up Kids!
Saturday 24th June 2023 saw Creating Canopies and 13 volunteers plant 500 native trees and shrubs on Kat’s property along Cattai Creek in Nelson, in the Hills Shire.
Special thanks go out to the youth group called ‘Get Up Kids!’ who planted with us on the day.
Landowner Kat was thrilled to partner with Creating Canopies & have help planting 500 free trees and shrubs on her land. 
Volunteers including the Get Up Kids group who planted with Creating Canopies in Nelson in June 2023. 
Volunteers from the Get Up Kids group who planted with Creating Canopies in Nelson in June 2023. 
Volunteers from the Get Up Kids group who planted with Creating Canopies in Nelson in June 2023. 
Volunteers from the Get Up Kids group who planted with Creating Canopies in Nelson in June 2023. 
Volunteers from the Get Up Kids group who planted with Creating Canopies in Nelson in June 2023. 
Creating Canopies and volunteers transformed this empty space… 
Into a future habitat haven.
This planting aimed to increase the local plant diversity and fill in the missing canopy of its Cumberland Shale-Sandstone Ironbark Forest.
Our Natural Resources Officer Bryce Doyle visited the site in December 2023 and reported a survival rate for the planting of 83%.
Bryce said, “Overall plants are performing well with Acacia species, Ozothamnus species and Eucalyptus species growing beyond the 50 cm guards.”
A Blue-tongue Lizard was even spotted amongst the plants during the monitoring. Looks like it approves of the new habitat!
UPDATE: Cubbitch Barta Reserve Planting in Camden Park
On Saturday 26th August 2023, 27 volunteers joined Creating Canopies to plant 1,000 trees by the water at Cubbitch Barta Reserve in Camden Park, in the Wollondilly LGA.
27 volunteers joined Creating Canopies to plant 1,000 trees and shrubs at Cubbitch Barta Reserve in Camden Park in August 2023. 
27 volunteers joined Creating Canopies to plant 1,000 trees and shrubs at Cubbitch Barta Reserve in Camden Park in August 2023. 
27 volunteers joined Creating Canopies to plant 1,000 trees and shrubs at Cubbitch Barta Reserve in Camden Park in August 2023. 
27 volunteers joined Creating Canopies to plant 1,000 trees and shrubs at Cubbitch Barta Reserve in Camden Park in August 2023. 
27 volunteers joined Creating Canopies to plant 1,000 trees and shrubs at Cubbitch Barta Reserve in Camden Park in August 2023. 
27 volunteers joined Creating Canopies to plant 1,000 trees and shrubs at Cubbitch Barta Reserve in Camden Park in August 2023.
Creating Canopies Project Officer Laura Parent visited the site in mid January 2024 and observed an 85% survival rate for the planting.
Laura said, “Successful planting with trees doing very well with the exception of the dryer area on the left flank of the pond. The mulched area is the most successful portion of the planting, with very minimal die back and almost no competitive weeds.”
The Cubbitch Barta planting had certainly been growing, as our monitoring visit in January 2024 revealed. Photo: Laura Parent. 
The Cubbitch Barta planting had certainly been growing, as our monitoring visit in January 2024 revealed. Photo: Laura Parent. 
The Cubbitch Barta planting had certainly been growing, as our monitoring visit in January 2024 revealed. Photo: Laura Parent. 
The Cubbitch Barta planting had certainly been growing, as our monitoring visit in January 2024 revealed. Photo: Laura Parent.
Laura noted that this planting was contributing to riparian restoration, and would deliver small bird habitat as well as shade in the future.
And that’s your bloomin’ lot. We’re continuing to check on the trees you planted in 2023. Stay tuned for more growth updates to come and we hope to see you at more plantings in 2024! 🙂
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.
