The Environmental Volunteer Program hosted two corporate volunteering sessions at the Porters Creek Landcare site at Wyong in late May and early June 2020. Thankfully these were able to go ahead before COVID 19 restrictions came into place. 

Staff from the Greater Bank branches across the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie and Newcastle regions participated in the May event while volunteers from the Brisbane Water chapter of Soroptimist International participated in the June event days and were full of enthusiasm.

The volunteers were given a site tour in which they were shown previous planting areas, were given a talk on the ecological significance of the site and the work being undertaken by the Porters Creek Landcare group. This helped the volunteers gain an understanding of the positive impact of their work for the morning. 

They were then given instructions on correct planting techniques and got stuck in to planting and planted approximately 700 native trees, shrubs and grasses. The plants for these projects were supplied by the Greater Banks sponsorship of the Environmental Volunteers Program as part of their 75-year anniversary celebrations.

The feedback from both events was very enthusiastic, with appreciation of the benefits of taking part in an outdoor planting event. The Greater Bank staff reported that it was a fantastic team building event for their organisation. The Soroptimists were delighted that they could contribute to helping plant out a site as part of their 100-year birthday celebrations. 

The Environmental Volunteer Program is looking ahead to times when we will be able to offer our regular volunteering sessions again, as well as one off events like these corporate planting activities. If you know of any organisations or businesses who you think would like to take part in one of these corporate style planting events please let them know of our program and pass on our contact email for further information environmentalvolunteering@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au