Residents rolled up their sleeves in Caversham on Saturday, June 6, planting 1,000 trees and shrubs as part of this year’s Branching Out program.
Delivered with the Friends of Bennett Brook group, the community planting day helped strengthen local green corridors, support habitat and contribute to cooler, greener neighbourhoods.
The planting day marked the final event in this year’s Branching Out program, which supported residents in Caversham and Beechboro to learn practical ways to green their gardens, verges and local streets.
Through a series of workshops, pop-up activities, a street and verge tour and the community planting day, residents explored how small actions at home can contribute to a greener and more resilient local environment.
This year’s program attracted strong community interest, with 147 registrations and 95 attendees across the series. Before the workshops began, two pop-up sessions at Beechboro Community Hub introduced the program to the local community, engaging 43 children and 39 adults in conversations about urban greening.
Children were invited to draw what they enjoy about green spaces, while adults had the opportunity to ask questions, learn more about the workshops and discuss practical ways to bring more greenery into their own homes and streets.
The workshop series focused on everyday gardening challenges faced by Swan residents, including sandy soils, hot and shaded garden areas, verge planting, waterwise design and choosing plants that support local wildlife.
Verge gardens were one of the strongest areas of interest, with residents keen to understand how to create attractive, practical and waterwise verge spaces. Soil improvement was another popular topic, particularly for residents in newer development areas where challenging soils can make it harder to establish healthy gardens.
Participants heard from experienced presenters who shared practical, local advice. Neville Passmore spoke about plants that support native fauna and how to establish and care for larger canopy trees, GreenLife Soil Co provided soil advice, Budding Concepts explored verge greening ideas, and Yann Toussaint shared a simple approach to garden design.
The program encouraged residents to see urban greening as achievable, whether they have a large garden, a small verge or are just starting out. Planting a tree, improving soil, choosing waterwise plants or creating habitat for native wildlife can all help increase shade, support biodiversity and make local streets more liveable.
Branching Out supports the City’s broader environmental and sustainability goals by helping residents increase urban canopy, support green corridors and build confidence in sustainable gardening practices.
By combining practical advice with hands-on community action, this year’s program helped residents turn local greening ideas into visible results.
To learn more about urban greening, verge gardens and ways to create a cooler, greener home, visit our Sustainability page.
