On Friday 31st May 2024, Greater Sydney Landcareβs Creating Canopies team hosted a corporate volunteering day for PUIG at Beale Park, Peakhurst in the Georges River Local Government Area.
This event brought together 21 employees from PUIG, united by a common goal: to plant 600 native trees and shrubs to help reduce urban heat. These plants will in time grow to 3 metres and above to provide shade and cooling from evapotranspiration.
Swapping the Office for the Great Outdoors
In the fresh air amongst the greenery of the park, the PUIG team swapped the office for the great outdoors for the day.
The cloudy morning provided a comfortable setting as the PUIG team got to work, digging holes and planting a diverse array of native species. The soft ground and abundant worms indicated healthy soil, rich in organic material, and promised a strong start for the new plants.
Among the species planted were gum trees, turpentine, banskias, wattles, she-oaks, blueberry ash, NSW Christmas bush, bottlebrush, and other native species suited to this area.
Creating Canopies for a Cooler Future
This was the second tree planting Creating Canopies has held in Beale Park this year β the first was on Saturday 13th April where around 60 volunteers helped plant 2,500 native trees and shrubs.
The plants PUIG installed extended the earlier planting and brought the total number of canopy trees and shrubs installed in Beale Park in 2024 to 3,100.
Thank you to Georges River Council for partnering with us to increase canopy cover to benefit both wildlife and the local community.
Creating Canopies Project Manager Danielle Packer and Project Officer Alicia Harb-Akins led the dayβs activities, ensuring each tree was planted securely to withstand curious local birds and provide long-lasting benefits. Dog walkers and park users will appreciate the added shade in the future, keeping them cool on sunny days.
In amongst the dayβs work, the PUIG team enjoyed some well-deserved breaks with fruit, biscuits and a delicious catered lunch of sandwiches.
After the planting was finished it began to rain and continued on into the weekendβproviding an excellent start for the newly installed plants.
A big thank you to our PUIG volunteers for their enthusiasm and hard work. Their contribution to this project will have long lasting benefits for the community and the environment. Together, we are making a greener, cooler future for all.
Volunteer for Bushcare in Georges River
If youβd 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 youβd 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 Landcareβs 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.