Abigail watered Elsa attentively as her friends patted down the soft mulch.
“I’ve never planted a tree before – it’s fun,” Kenndra said. “I hope we can plant more in the future.”
(From left to right): Rosemeadow Public School students Kenndra Rodgers, Abigail Minords and Elisepa Faiva water Elsa, a small tree they named and then planted at Heydon Park.
The students’ principal, Paul Hughes, was delighted the kids could be involved.
“By the time some of these children are in Year 6 … these trees could be 10 to 12 metres tall creating a lot of shade for the next generation,” Mr Hughes said.
“I think it’s really important the children are giving now for future generations to reap the benefits.”
The tree-planting, on Tuesday June 25, is part of a NSW Government pilot project to green the suburb.
The $1 million Rosemeadow Demonstration project will involve planting trees in Heydon Park, Copperfield Drive and across the suburb to increase canopy cover.
The project is part of the NSW Government’s Five Million Trees initiative, which aims to see five million trees planted across Greater Sydney by 2030 and one million trees planted by 2022.
“Not only do trees help green our environment but they provide oxygen and also they provide really important shade, especially here in Western Sydney during those summer months,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Tree canopy ensures we have cooler temperatures.”
Mr Stokes said this initiative is about increasing access to more public open spaces across Greater Sydney and creating more pleasant places for communities to come together.
Rosemeadow Public School students help to plant a large tree at Heydon Park, supporting it together to keep it upright as it’s lowered into the soil.
When Ms Berejiklian asked the kids if they thought it was possible for the people of Greater Sydney to plant a million trees in two years, one little girl piped up: “Anything’s possible, if you just believe.”
Rosemeadow Public School students help Premier Gladys Berejiklian plant a tree she helped name at Heydon Park.
