We’re hosting two community planting events this National Tree Day, Sunday 27 July, and everyone is invited to help plant trees and shrubs and enjoy free community festivities. 

But did you know about the work that goes on behind the scenes to prepare for National Tree Day? 

Each month, a volunteer seed collecting group gathers seeds and cuttings from local bushland and coastal reserves for use at Council’s Erina Nursery.

Nursery volunteer groups then work alongside environmental officers to sort the seeds and store them in the nursery’s seed bank. They process cuttings, pot up seedlings, and water and weed the new plants. 

Our volunteers spend more than 400 hours working at the nursery and produce over 20,000 plants to supply for ecological rehabilitation projects, landscaping in public spaces, and of course, National Tree Day plantings.

Shrubs, trees and ground covers selected for the event are specific to each location and chosen for their adaptation to the local area and ability to withstand coastal conditions. 

As well as those members of our community who volunteer in the nursery, we’re fortunate to have approximately 650 volunteers who give their time, enthusiasm, and skills to restoring our local environment and many of those people will also be volunteering on National Tree Day.

Enormous thanks to all our environmental volunteers for your commitment and dedication to this cause – we couldn’t do it without you. 

I encourage everyone to get involved on National Tree Day and help to plant the trees of the future. This is your chance to do something that will have a lasting impact.

National Tree Day planting events will be held at Killcare Beach (Beach Drive) and Porters Creek Wetland (Wyong Christian Community School, Alison Road Wyong).

For details of each event, or if you’re interested in finding out more about Council’s Environmental Volunteer Program, search for ‘Environmental Groups’ on Council’s website.

Mayor Lawrie McKinna