After many incredible years, our Creating Canopies project is preparing to plant its final trees—and we’d love to plant with you one last time.
Starting in 2020, the project was funded to plant 100,000 native trees and shrubs by the end of 2022. Not only did we meet that target—we exceeded it by 4,910 trees.
That success sparked a second phase with an even bigger goal: planting 200,000 more trees between 2023 and 2025. As the project wraps up at the end of this year, we’ve already planted over 173,000 native trees and shrubs toward that target. With more than 36,000 planned for the coming months, we’re set to exceed expectations once again—ahead of schedule and under budget.
Altogether, the Creating Canopies project is on track to deliver over 315,000 native trees and shrubs by October 2025! This outstanding achievement will help reduce urban heat island effects across Greater Sydney, greening and cooling our city for years to come.
Creating Canopies at a Glance
- 6 years planting (2020-2025)
- 19 LGAs across Greater Sydney benefitted
- 80% survival rate or better across all sites
- 359 planting events so far (as at the start of August 2025, with more planned)
- 6,530+ volunteers planted with us
- Aiming to exceed our target of 300,000 native trees and shrubs
- Delivered on time and under budget
Why It Matters
Creating Canopies is more than just a tree planting project. It’s a large-scale, community-powered response to urban heat, habitat loss, and disconnection from nature and each other.
We plant native species that grow to at least three metres, focusing on suburbs with less than 30% canopy cover. These trees offer shade, cooling, and long-term benefits for both wildlife and people.
Leaving a Heart-Warming Legacy
Whether you came solo, with your friends or family, workplace, community group or school—thank you.
The impact we’ve made together is significant. And it isn’t just ecological—it’s personal. Creating Canopies has helped thousands give back to nature, plant hope for a better future, meet like-minded people, and contribute to something meaningful that will benefit future generations.
We care about our environment. And when we show up together, we can move mountains.
September 2025: Your Last Chance to Plant with Creating Canopies
We’re hosting four final community planting events this September—two midweek and two on Saturdays—including one last celebration to close out the project.
These may be the last Creating Canopies events ever. While we hope to continue, no funding is currently confirmed for 2026.
So we invite you to come and join us. Help us plant the final trees of this chapter, celebrate what we’ve achieved together, and support a cooler, greener Greater Sydney.
Get Involved
Visit our Events page to register for an upcoming planting or support our urban greening work by giving a tax-deductible donation.
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.
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.
