FOR colder regions like Armidale National Tree Planting Day takes place later than the rest of the country to allow for warmer weather.
It is an opportunity for the community to do something positive for the environment and to reconnect with nature.
Armidale Urban Rivercare Group (AURG) will coordinate the Armidale community National Tree Day planting event this Sunday morning at Elizabeth Park.
Spokesperson for AURG, Angus Adair, said that preparation work has been undertaken at Elizabeth Park, where new plantings of local native species will link earlier plantings on the south side of Dumaresq Creek.
Mr Adair said that with growing community support over the last couple of years it is possible to get up to a thousand plants in the ground in a single morning.
“National Tree Day this year will begin our target of linking these earlier plantings,” he said.
“AURG has been working on this section of Dumaresq Creek for a decade now. In 2000 the southern bank was completely obscured by an impenetrable barrier of willows, privet and blackberries.
“This part of the creek has some lovely waterholes, and already we are seeing an increase in native wildlife taking advantage of the native trees and shrubs already well established on both the north and south banks over the last decade.
“Native plantings are also hoped to help deal with the problem of choking bullrushes in the long term.”
AURG invites the Armidale community to participate in National Tree Day 2013 on Sunday morning, 8 September, between 9am and 12.30pm at Elizabeth Park on Dumaresq Street just west of Markham Street. Access is also available from O’Dell Street near the preschool.
The Armidale Dumaresq Lions Club will support the event by providing morning tea and a barbecue lunch for a gold coin donation. Residents are urged to come along with a hat, long sleeves and sensible footwear. Sunscreen and equipment will be provided.
