1500 extra plants to help green our city

Sydneysiders are invited to help green our city and create local habitats on Sunday 28 July.

The City of Sydney and Planet Ark are calling for volunteers to help plant 1,500 native plants at Dalgal Way, Forest Lodge, from 10am to 2pm on National Tree Day.

"We're creating a greener and cleaner city by planting trees in our streets and parks, and creating more sustainable habitats for local wildlife," Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

"National Tree Day is just one of the many great ways you can help green the city, make our parks and streets more beautiful and create a more liveable city. It's an opportunity to get your hands dirty, meet new people and take positive environmental action."

This year's tree planting event will take place near the popular Tramsheds at Harold Park. Sydneysiders are invited to bring the whole family along to join in the planting fun and afterwards enjoy some tasty tucker at a sausage sizzle.

A number of native species will be planted, including fast growing shrubs providing ground cover, perennial herbs, native grasses and flowering shrubs providing food and habitats for butterflies.

The City is also donating native plants to local schools and child care centres so they can participate in the national event.

National Tree Day was co-founded in 1996 by Planet Ark and Olivia Newton-John. It is Australia's largest community tree planting and nature protection event.

The City has worked with Planet Ark to hold National Tree Day events since 2010, with more than 5,000 people helping to plant over 34,740 native trees, shrubs and grasses across the city.

The City is committed to increasing our urban canopy by 50 per cent by 2030. The City's Greening Sydney Plan encourages the community to contribute to greening the urban landscape. The City has planted more than 13,000 trees along its streets since 2005. There are more than 47,000 trees along the City's streets and in parks and playgrounds across the local area.

Planet Ark National Tree Day Manager Simone Horder welcomed the continued involvement of the City of Sydney.

"National Tree Day is fortunate to have the support of councils like City of Sydney, without which our urban environments would be much more grey," Ms Horder said.

"Their greening efforts make for more vibrant spaces to live, work and play in. Our Tree Day research this year found those greening efforts also help to protect us from the impacts of climate change by sequestering CO2 and reducing temperatures in the areas we live.

"We hope every metropolitan council is thinking about how they can incorporate urban canopies into their planning in the same way."

For more information about the event visit whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/events/national-tree-day-2

For information about National Tree Day visit treeday.planetark.org/

For media inquiries or images, contact Angela Salt or Roxanne Macara. Phone 0438 554 640 or email [email protected]

For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Jack Begbie. Phone 0481 759 580 or email [email protected]