Greater Sydney Landcare has strengthened its partnership with Greater Sydney Parklands in 2025, once again contributing to the successful ‘Bringing Back the Bush‘ program. This inspiring initiative connects students with nature through hands-on environmental education, within the beautiful Western Sydney Parklands.
On Tuesday 8 April 2025, the Creating Canopies team hosted a busy tree planting day at Lizard Log that brought together 240 participants, including 162 homeschooling students of all ages alongside 78 parents and guardians. Under the guidance of our experienced team, these families collectively planted 500 native trees and shrubs throughout the day.
To protect the young plants from local wildlife, including kangaroos, wallabies and hares, the Creating Canopies team installed protective wallaby guards around each seedling, giving them the best chance to establish in their new home.
This event marks another milestone in our ongoing commitment to Lizard Log, bringing the total number of plants installed at this site to 2,500 over the past two years. Each planting contributes to the regeneration of the Cumberland Plain Woodland—a critically endangered ecological community that once covered 30% of Sydney but has been dramatically reduced through urbanisation.
The species planted were carefully selected from the Cumberland Shale Plains Woodland plant community to complement the existing vegetation and enhance both canopy cover and mid-storey diversity. The day’s plantings included:
- Gum trees (Eucalypts and Angophoras)
- Wattles (Acacias)
- Coffee Bush (Breynia oblongifolia)
- Sweet Bursaria (Bursaria spinosa)
- Hop-bush (Dodonaea viscosa)
- Australian Indigo (Indigo australis)
- Rice Flower (Ozothamnus diosmifolius)
By restoring this native bushland, we’re extending vital habitat for indigenous wildlife such as Eastern Grey Kangaroos and the Dwarf Tree Frog. Beyond the ecological benefits, these plantings will provide much-needed shade and evaporative cooling, helping to reduce the urban heat island effect across Greater Sydney.
We extend our sincere gratitude to Greater Sydney Parklands for providing this valuable land for increased canopy cover. And to all the students and their families who participated—thank you for your enthusiasm in planting, learning, and connecting with nature. Your hands-on contribution demonstrates that everyone can play an important role in creating a cooler, greener Sydney for generations to come.
Volunteer for Bushcare in Fairfield
If you’d like to contribute to environmental efforts in the Fairfield LGA, you can become a Bushcare volunteer and regenerate bushland. No experience is necessary as training is provided.
Get Involved in Creating Canopies
If you’d like to find out how to get free trees planted on your land, visit our Register Your Site for Trees page.
Come along and plant trees with Creating Canopies. Find out what events we have coming up on Greater Sydney Landcare’s Eventbrite page.
Find out more about Corporate Volunteering with Greater Sydney Landcare here. Be sure to download our Corporate Volunteering Info Pack.
About Creating Canopies
Landcare NSW and Greater Sydney Landcare are planting 300,000 trees as part of the Greening our City program to help reduce urban heat in Greater Sydney. Proudly funded by the NSW Government.
