PARENTS, teachers, students, gardeners and volunteers of all kinds will get their green thumbs out this weekend to plant native trees shrubs and grasses around the Illawarra as part of National Tree Day events.

The National Tree Day program is a nationwide initiative that encourages Australians to come together and contribute to the restoration and preservation of our natural environment. This year, Schools Tree Day will be celebrated today (Friday, July 28) around the country, with National Tree Day to be celebrated July 30.

To celebrate National Tree Day, Wollongong City Council will host an event at Cabbage Tree Creek, Balgownie on Sunday. Participants are asked to wear enclosed footwear, long pants and sleeves, a hat and bring a water bottle. Also participants are asked to bring their own gardening gloves if you have them.

The event will get underway at Cabbage Tree Creek behind Judy Masters Oval, Balgownie, from 10am to 11.30am, on Sunday, July 30. Register: Here

Rebecca Gilling, Planet Ark CEO, said this year’s plantings will bring the national total to over 27 million native trees, shrubs and grasses since the program was established in 1996. These results have been made possible by the efforts of over five million volunteers who have participated in the collective effort to plant trees and foster a deeper connection with nature.

“Planting a tree signifies the commitment we have to appreciate and care for nature,” Ms Gilling said.

“We believe that fostering a strong connection with the natural world is critical to inspiring individuals to protect and conserve it for generations to come.” 

This year, Planet Ark is celebrating the remarkable growth of The Seedling Bank, a program that provides schools and community groups across the country with funds to acquire native seedlings for regeneration projects. Since its inception, The Seedling Bank has directly funded the planting of over 80,000 seedlings in 132 school and community groups. This year, another 119 groups will plant over 50,000 seedlings using funding from The Seedling Bank.

To find out how to participate or locate an event near you, visit the National Tree Day website – treeday.planetark.org.

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