Greater Sydney Landcare was pleased to host a Creating Canopies planting at a Mandean owned property in Wallacia. 
Greater Sydney Landcare was pleased to host a Creating Canopies planting at a Mandean owned property in Wallacia. 
Greater Sydney Landcare was pleased to host a Creating Canopies planting at a Mandean owned property in Wallacia.
On Saturday 20th April 2024, Greater Sydney Landcare’s Creating Canopies team hosted a planting day at a private property in Wallacia, owned by a Mandean community group.
The Mandaean Community articulated that they wanted a natural canopy along the ceremonial walkway to enhance the environment whilst walking down. After, several months of planning Greater Sydney Landcare and the Mandaean Community came to an agreement to plant close to 3,000 plants alongside the walkway.
As Bell Miners called from nearby bush, over 60 Mandean community members came together to plant close to 3,000 native trees and shrubs. Their efforts will not only enhance the beauty of the area but also create cooling shade for future generations.
From the Creating Canopies team, Project Manager Danielle Packer, Natural Resource Manager Bryce Doyle, Project Officer Laura Parent, and Communications & Engagement Officer Melanie Wagner supervised the day.
Though blankets of clouds hung overhead, we were lucky as the rain held off and patches of blue sky peeped through occasionally. The planting site was sheltered from wind and the clouds kept us nice and cool so we could keep planting and working all day.
The planting included a diverse mix of trees and shrubs including Eucalypts, Acacias, Callistemons, Dodonaeas, Kunzeas, Melaleucas and other native plants that suit this area. These plants will grow into a lush canopy, reaching over three metres in height and contributing to lower ambient temperatures through evapotranspiration.
Our volunteers for the day were enthusiastic to be a part of it all. Even when they encountered patches of harder clay soil, they persevered. After a hearty vegetarian lunch of sandwiches and falafels they were very keen to get back to it – jumping into the work of staking and guarding the plants with gusto.
Thank you to the Mandean community for volunteering this site for trees and coming out in force to plant them. 
Thank you to the Mandean community for volunteering this site for trees and coming out in force to plant them. 
Thank you to the Mandean community for volunteering this site for trees and coming out in force to plant them.
The day attracted people of all ages to contribute to the undertaking. Thankfully many hands make light work as there was much to do. Seeing the valley at the end of the day transformed with thousands of new native plants and the borders guarded against local kangaroos and deer was extremely impressive.
Birds of prey like the Wedge-tailed Eagle and Nankeen Kestrel were spotted soaring overhead checking out our work. Perhaps they were interested in the many grasshoppers and skinks that we saw while digging in the mulch and dirt. It’s a good sign that these new plants will soon become home to a variety of native wildlife.
What Did the Landowners Think of the Day?
Anoush Chohilli of the Mandean group said, “The Mandean Community sincerely express their deepest gratitude to the Greater Sydney Landcare team for their significant involvement in improving Mandi Wallacia and helping the Mandean Community.”
Sam Chohilli, Mandi Wallacia Stage 2 Project Manager, said: “After several months of planning, it was a fantastic achievement to see so many keen Mandeans help plant trees on this day. Thank you to your team for your dedicated efforts in achieving our goal by creating a canopy alongside the ceremonial walkway.”
Michael Sobbi, the current Treasurer of the Sabian Mandean Association said, “I planted several trees with my son on this day, and for the whole car ride home he kept on repeating how much fun he had today.”
Thank you to the Mandean community for volunteering their site for trees, working with us to prep the site, and for coming along in great numbers to put the plants in the ground and protect them. Thanks to their partnership with Creating Canopies, Wallacia is on its way to a greener, cooler and more vibrant future.
Volunteer for Bushcare in Wollondilly
If you’d like to contribute to environmental efforts in the Wollondilly 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.
