Help green Geelong for National Tree Day

THE Geelong community is being encouraged to dig deep and get their hands dirty to help green one of the municipality’s scenic shared path corridors.

The City of Greater Geelong is seeking volunteers to help out at a community tree planting this Sunday, July 31.

Planting will focus on a section of the Ted Wilson Trail behind Haines Reserve, in Manifold Heights.

Tools and equipment will be provided, with participants also able to enjoy refreshments and a barbecue hosted by the Lions Club.

Cr Anthony Aitken, chair of the city works, parks and gardens portfolio, said the community planting would be held on National Tree Day, which is Australia’s largest tree planting and nature care event.

“With the help of the community, we’re aiming to plant as many trees as possible along an 800-metre stretch of the trail corridor.

“The trees will grow to create a green boundary and provide natural shade for pedestrians and cyclists using the trail.”

The 12-kilometre-long Ted Wilson Trail follows the alignment of the Geelong Ring Road, from Corio through to Herne Hill.

Cr Aitken said the planting was part of a long-running project, called Greenway, which is revegetating the trail with tens of thousands of trees and native grasses.

“The Ted Wilson Trail is one of the key routes in our shared trails network, which Council is upgrading and expanding at every opportunity.

“We are creating a larger and more diverse tree population, which is cooling our public areas and improving the look and feel of the municipality.”

The event is supported by the city’s National Landcare Program.

The city manages 106,670 street trees and 46,459 park trees, as well as trees along rural roadways, reserves, waterways and bike trails.

The National Tree Day event will be held at 9.30am on Sunday, July 31.

Pre-registration at treeday.planetark.org/site/10027143 is encouraged but is not essential.

Volunteers can meet along the trail at the rear of Haines Reserve in Wilks Street, Manifold Heights.