14 July 2014

Strathfield Council is calling on Strathfield residents to make a positive contribution to the local environment by getting involved in Australia’s biggest community tree planting and nature care event on Sunday 27 July.

Strathfield will host a National Tree Day and family fun day event at Cooke Park, Belfield from 9am – 2pm, where residents can plant a tree and enjoy a fun family day out.

“National Tree Day is a great opportunity for the community to participate in a local event that improves Strathfield’s natural areas. It is a great day for the whole family to get involved and do something together that will have long lasting benefits for the environment and the community,” said Mayor of Strathfield, Daniel Bott.

National Tree Day is a Planet Ark initiative that began in 1996 and has seen more than 2.8 million volunteers plant 17 million native trees, shrubs and grasses.

In 2012 and 2013 Strathfield residents helped to plant over 6000 native plants in Ford Park. This year, the event has been moved to a new location at Cooke Park, with the aim to add another 3000 plants.

Cooke Park is located upstream from Ford Park and forms part of the Cooks River habitat corridor. Plantings on National Tree Day will help to reconnect Strathfield’s bushland areas, work towards restoring critical small bird habitat in the area and enhance the surrounds of Cooke Park’s sporting fields. The plants species that will be planted on the day are local to the area and will be supplied by Strathfield Council’s nursery.

Everyone who comes along to plant a tree can also enjoy a free barbecue lunch, while the kids are entertained by a jumping castle, face painting and reptile display.

To register for National Tree Day at Cooke Park, visit treeday.planetark.org.