On Saturday 27th July 2025, Greater Sydney Landcare joined forces with Liverpool City Council to celebrate National Tree Day with a big community planting event along the Cabramatta Creek in Carnes Hill.
With shovels in hand and smiles on their faces, 66 enthusiastic volunteers helped us plant 2,520 native trees and shrubs—a fantastic way to mark Australia’s largest community tree planting event and contribute to a cooler, greener Greater Sydney.
The day began with showers, but the rain stopped just before we started prepping the site at 7 am—giving us a cool, overcast day by the time volunteers arrived, which is excellent planting weather! The light morning showers had softened the ground beautifully, making it easy for people of all ages and experience levels to dig in.
We were thrilled to welcome back many familiar faces who have volunteered with us before, as well as first-timers—including a local resident who popped over to see what was happening and returned later with her nephew to get involved. That community spirit is exactly what National Tree Day is all about.
Restoring Endangered Ecosystems
Volunteers helped establish a rich diversity of native species, including:
- Gum trees (Eucalyptus and Angophora)
- Paperbarks (Melaleucas)
- Teatrees (Leptospermums)
- Wattles (Acacias)
- Bottlebrush (Callistemons)
- Cheese tree, Grey myrtle, Sweet Bursaria, Hop bush
- Australian Indigo, Native Daphne, Coffee bush
- Rice flower and more
These native plants are not only beautiful—they’re ecologically important. They’ll help to restore urban canopy, provide essential food and shelter for native wildlife, filter stormwater, and support the health of the nearby Cabramatta Creek.
Many of the species we planted are part of the Cumberland Blue Box Riverflat Forest plant community, which is part of a critically endangered ecosystem that plays a vital role in the Georges River catchment.
Planting for a Better Future
The planting was co-hosted by Greater Sydney Landcare’s Creating Canopies project team and Liverpool City Council. Our team—including Danielle Hughes, Bryce Doyle, Alicia Harb-Akins, Melanie Wagner, and Eli Stead—was on hand to guide volunteers, alongside Council staff who provided planting demonstrations. Liverpool City Council funded their contribution to the National Tree Day event through their Environmental Restoration Project Levy.
The site buzzed with extra activities too. Volunteers explored a range of interactive stalls, including:
- Georges Riverkeeper with Phuong To, discussing waterway health, litter prevention, and caring for Country
- Landcare NSW’s Firewise Garden stall with Katelyn Caldwell, showcasing native plants that are both fire-resistant and habitat-friendly
- Streamwatch with Sabina Roe and Laura Fazio-Nagy, offering hands-on learning about water monitoring and the chance to decorate tree guards, which now form a visual border around the planting site
- Greater Sydney Landcare & Wildventure, with Sophie Blair chatting about our wider programs
- Liverpool City Council, with Pest Management Officer Chick Chilby providing helpful info about weeds and the local environment
After the trees were in the ground, volunteers helped install cardboard guards, built a protective boundary to prevent future mowing, and watered in the seedlings with watering cans filled from our trusty watering cube on the back of a ute.
Creating Canopies, Connecting Communities
A special treat on the day came courtesy of the Blacktown Ponds Lions Club, who kindly ran a sausage sizzle to reward our hardworking planters with a delicious lunch. It added a fun, social vibe to the morning and was much appreciated by all who attended.
We also ran a raffle with some great prizes, including native plants, Greater Sydney Landcare merch, reusable straws, and a special children’s prize pack featuring the picture book ‘Saving the Flying Fox’.
What Our Volunteers Said
Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Volunteers praised the event as well-organised, engaging, and socially rewarding—many highlighted how much they enjoyed meeting new people and reconnecting with fellow volunteers. Several first-time participants said they’d love to return, and 100% of respondents said they’re interested in attending future Landcare events. Their favourite parts of the day included tree planting, chatting at the educational stalls, and the special sausage sizzle. One participant said, “Amazing. The next generation will reap the benefits” while another added: “Fantastic experience and felt a great sense of achievement.”
Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate National Tree Day and increase canopy cover in Carnes Hill. You’ve helped restore an endangered ecosystem, cool the suburb, and create lasting habitat for native wildlife. Let’s keep planting the future—one tree at a time.
Volunteer for Bushcare in Liverpool
If you’d like to contribute to environmental efforts in the Liverpool LGA, you can become a Bushcare volunteer and regenerate bushland. No experience is necessary as training is provided.
Corporate Volunteering with Greater Sydney Landcare
Find out more about Corporate Volunteering with Greater Sydney Landcare here. Be sure to download our Corporate Volunteering Info Pack.
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.
About Creating Canopies
Landcare NSW and Greater Sydney Landcare are planting 300,000 trees from 2020-2025 as part of the Greening our City program to help reduce urban heat in Greater Sydney. Proudly funded by the NSW Government.
