From small saplings to growing green canopy

An image of Councillor Lisa Bradley with some potted plants and planting tools as she gets an early start on National Tree Day on Sunday which will include a free community planting event in Passerine Park (entry via Dorset Park) at Rochedale South.
Councillor Lisa Bradley gets an early start on National Tree Day on
Sunday which will include a free community planting event in Passerine Park (entry via Dorset Park) at Rochedale South.

Logan City Council will use National Tree Day this weekend to continue to grow the City of Logan’s award-winning green canopy.

Council plants more than 80,000 trees and shrubs annually and will add to that impressive total with two free community planting events to mark National Tree Day on Sunday, August 1.

National Tree Day is Australia’s largest community and nature care event. The theme this year is: “Be part of something big by doing something small”.

A range of native groundcovers, shrubs and small trees will be planted on Sunday at Passerine Park in Rochedale South (entry through Dorset Park in Dorset Drive) and Lake Breeze Park, River Gum Court, Loganholme.

Both events, which run from 8am to 10am, are open to the public and include a free morning tea or barbecue. Queensland Health directives will apply in relation to masks and social distancing.

City of Logan was last year named ‘Best on Ground’ by the Greener Spaces Better Places network for increasing the city’s green cover by 5 per cent.

The organisation found the City of Logan’s tree canopy had increased from 41 per cent in 2016 to 53 per cent in 2020.

The City of Logan is also home to a veteran Blue Gum, nicknamed ‘Gandalf’, that has been scientifically tested to be at least 379 years old.

Environment Chair, Deputy Mayor Jon Raven said Council was committed to protecting and expanding green spaces.

“We know that the natural environment is a high priority for our community. Planting trees is an investment in our future that is vital to keep our city green,” Cr Raven said.

Division 1 Councillor Lisa Bradley said community plantings were an essential part of her area and had become an ongoing tradition, not just on National Tree Day but year-round.

“It’s important that we all do something to help regenerate green spaces in our local neighbourhoods,” Cr Bradley said.

“Planting native trees, shrubs and groundcovers is not only good for the environment, it also helps to improve the health of our local waterways.”

Environment Deputy Chair and Division 10 Councillor, Miriam Stemp said more than 150 juvenile shade trees will be planted across Lake Breeze Park for National Tree Day.

“I know the extra shade in this beautiful big park will be welcomed by the local community,” Cr Stemp said.

“But these native trees will be just as important to the health and sustainability of local wildlife in this riverside area.”

National Tree Day is on Sunday, August 1. Some schools will mark the event with plantings on Friday, July 30.

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