On Saturday 6th September 2025, Greater Sydney Landcare brought together community members for a tree planting day at John Bruce Pye Farm in Greendale, part of the University of Sydneyโs Tharawal (Dharawal) โ Camden campus.
The event was part of Creating Canopies, a joint initiative of Greater Sydney Landcare and Landcare NSW that is planting hundreds of thousands of trees across Greater Sydney to expand canopy cover, reduce heat, and restore vital habitat. Creating Canopies is funded through the NSW Governmentโs Greening our City program.
Volunteers Roll Up Their Sleeves
58 volunteers joined in, planting more than 900 native trees and shrubs from the Cumberland Plain Shale Woodland and Cumberland Red Gum Riverflat Forest plant communities. Leading the day were Greater Sydney Landcareโs Danielle Hughes, Bryce Doyle, Alicia Harb-Akins, Ryan Birtles and Peter Cartwright, who guided the volunteers in planting, guarding and watering across the day.
Community Groups Working Together
The group was a mix of familiar faces and newcomers, with repeat volunteers returning alongside first-time participants. We were thrilled to be joined once again by the SCJ Light – Shincheonji Youth Volunteering Group, as well as former Miss Earth Australia, Helen Latukefu, who coordinated a group of Queens of Australia 2025 candidates. The support of all our volunteers added fantastic energy to the day.
Helen said: “Huge thank you to Greater Sydney Landcare for providing our Queens of Australia 2025 the opportunity to get into community and share in planting for a greener, cooler city!”
Protecting Young Plants from Browsing Wildlife
Each planting spot included a tree and shrub, protected with wallaby guards to give the seedlings the best chance to thrive. The guards will help protect them from kangaroos, wallabies, deer and wombats, all of which roam the area. Over time, the young plants will strengthen and become part of a healthier, more resilient ecosystem.
A Bigger Picture of Restoration
The John Bruce Pye Farm site will eventually host 8,000 new plants, with contractors completing the remainder of the planting. Used by the University of Sydney for agricultural, veterinary and environmental research, the farm now also stands as a place of ecological restoration.
โThe University of Sydney is excited to be a part of Greater Sydney Landcareโs Creating Canopies project and to use these sites going forward for studies of biodiversity and sustainability,โ said James Bell, Farm Operations Manager, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney.
Partnerships Making It Possible
As well as being supported by the NSW government, this planting received additional support from the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife through its Landscape Resilience program and the Arbor Day Foundation.
โSupporting ecological restoration projects like this one is central to our mission. In the face of accelerating biodiversity loss, restoring native habitat and expanding tree canopy cover is critical. These efforts help rebuild healthy ecosystems, support wildlife, and create more resilient landscapes for both nature and people,โ said Ian Darbyshire, CEO of the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife.
What Did The Volunteers Think?
Volunteers described the day as โreally well organisedโ and a โgreat experience,โ highlighting the friendly and supportive staff, the sense of community, and the chance to work alongside like-minded people. Many valued the opportunity to learn more about native plants, treeโshrub pairings, and the role of vegetation in protecting waterways and soil. Others spoke about the joy of being outdoors, meeting new people, and contributing to a cause with such tangible, positive impact. Several participants said they were already looking forward to joining future Landcare events.
Thank You to All Involved
Greater Sydney Landcare extends thanks to the University of Sydney for partnering to increase canopy cover, to the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife and Arbor Day Foundation for their support, and most of all to the volunteers who gave their time and energy to help plant a cooler, greener Sydney.
Volunteer for Bushcare in Liverpool
If youโd 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 youโd 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 Landcareโs 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.
