Bloomfield bushland to benefit from planting

National Tree Day is Australia’s largest annual tree-planting and nature care event and takes place on Sunday 29 July. This is an initiative organised by Planet Ark in partnership with Toyota Australia which provides on-the-ground support at tree planting sites across Australia.

“National Tree Day has a long history in Australia, and it’s a great opportunity for parents and their children to spend time together planting new trees in a key piece of local bushland,” Cr Reg Kidd said.

“The council staff will be preparing the way for volunteers to be there on Sunday to plant around 600 new trees. Because it’s been so dry in recent months, the ground is going to be very hard for volunteers to be digging with a shovel. A council team will be on site in the coming days with a borer to dig the holes for these new plants.”

“As well as Orange City Council, members of the Bloomfield Bushland Advisory Group, the Environmentally Concerned Citizens of Orange (ECCO) and the Orange Field Naturalists & Conservation Society are involved in this event. All we need now is a good roll-up of tree planters on Sunday morning.”

Orange City Council’s Environmental Sustainability Committee chair, Cr Stephen Nugent, said the site, across the road from the Gosling Creek reserve, has walking trails and is a key passive recreation area.

“It’s fantastic that the community of Orange still has large areas of native bush so close to residential areas,” Cr Stephen Nugent said. “While there are large established trees in this area that provide habitat, we need to give the next generation of trees a good start. The new trees will have corflute guards installed around the base of new trees to protect the young plants from local wildlife.”

“It’s land that’s managed by Health authorities, but is open to the community. They’ve built walking paths and the plantings will be positioned along the paths.”

The event runs from 10 am to 1pm on Sunday 29 July.

The site on Bloomfield Road will be signposted. A free BBQ will be held. Volunteers are encouraged to wear warm clothing and sensible shoes.