"A powerful act of hope": Hundreds of Knox locals make light work of planting 3,500 trees

About 200 volunteers came together on Sunday to plant trees, shrubs and ground covers across 30 different species as part of Knox Council’s National Tree Day event.

The trees cover large parts of the Koolamara Waters Reserve in Ferntree Gully.

Many hands…

Knox Council bushland management officer Adam Loy said the day was a useful reminder to  locals about the flora in their local reserves and parks.

“It also gives them a really good chance to see what might be appropriate for their own gardens,” he told the Eastern Melburnian.

Loy said Covid had led to an increase in local interest in biodiversity.

“The community is really active in obtaining grants and lobbying council and state politicians, pushing the great message that is having green spaces,” he said.

The role played by native trees in our backyard

Planet Ark chief executive Rebecca Gilling said it was important to educate people on the best species for their area, with recent research showing 42 percent of Australians know which native plants support local wildlife.

“It’s incredibly heartening to see so many Australians wanting to plant native species, which is a powerful act of hope that not only helps fight climate change but also supports our precious native wildlife,” she said.

“We need to provide people with knowledge to choose the right plants for the right place, and how to help those plants thrive.”

Native trees help reduce salt content and soil erosion, while also creating shade, shelter and food and habitat to native animals.