On Thursday 27 June 2024, Greater Sydney Landcare’s Creating Canopies team hosted a corporate volunteering event for Google, in partnership with Cumberland City Council. Our site for a future urban forest was along Prospect Creek in Yennora’s Fairfield Road Park.
Eight enthusiastic Googlers joined us for the afternoon and planted 600 native trees and shrubs, contributing to Creating Canopies’ aims to reduce urban heat in the future.
Increasing Green Cover: A Collaborative Effort
The Creating Canopies team didn’t stop there. They returned to Fairfield Road Park and installed additional plants, bringing the total number of trees and shrubs planted to an impressive 1,515. This combined effort is a testament to the power of community and corporate collaboration in achieving significant environmental goals.
A Diverse Array of Native Plants
The plants installed at Fairfield Road Park included a variety of eucalyptus species, as well as angophora, melaleuca, and acacias (wattles). The team also planted numerous shrubs such as Bursaria spinosa, Ozothamnus diosmifolius, Dodonaea viscosa (Sticky Hop Bush), Indigofera australis (Australian Indigo), and other native species suited to the area.
The Importance of Mature Trees
In ideal conditions, Eucalyptus tereticornis, one of the species planted at the park, can grow up to 50 meters high. Many of the other gum trees planted can reach a height of 20-30 meters. However, it could take generations for these trees to reach such sizes, highlighting the importance of preserving mature trees across Greater Sydney. Established trees provide essential habitats for wildlife, with medium-sized hollows that could be used by parrots taking around 200 years to form.
Creating Habitats for the Future
We hope that in time, the trees planted on this day will provide homes to many animals long after we are gone. Established trees play a crucial role in the ecosystem, offering shelter and food to various species. By planting now, we are ensuring that future generations will benefit from a healthier, more biodiverse environment.
Thank You to Our Partners and Volunteers
A big thank you to the Google team for their hard work and dedication, and to Cumberland City Council for volunteering this site for increased canopy cover. Your contributions are making a significant impact on our environment and community.
The Benefits of Corporate Volunteering
Corporate volunteering days with Greater Sydney Landcare provide employees with the opportunity to come together, build a sense of community, improve team bonds, and boost morale.
They are also great for employee well-being. Hands-on involvement with nature provides physical activity but also a refreshing and revitalising break from the usual work routine. Time spent in nature has been shown to reduce stress levels, enhance cognitive function, and improve mental health.
Volunteering with Greater Sydney Landcare is a great way to enjoy the benefits of nature while giving back at the same time.
Join us in our mission to create greener, cooler urban spaces. Get involved, volunteer, and make a difference in your community.

Volunteer for Bushcare in Cumberland
If you’d like to contribute to environmental efforts in the Cumberland 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 200,000 trees as part of the Greening our City program to help reduce urban heat in Greater Sydney. Proudly funded by the NSW Government.