By Mikayla van Loon
The annual National Tree Day is scheduled for the end of July, with local events popping up across the outer east.
For those looking to attend an event in the urban parts, Maroondah City Council will be hosting a tree planting event just across the border in Croydon, to revegetate the Tarralla Creek Trail on Sunday 28 July.
Maroondah mayor Kylie Spears said the council’s bushland management team will be providing 4000 indigenous plants to help “enhance the biodiversity of the area and create more habitat for our native wildlife”.
“[This] will provide additional habitat and support to local species to access essential resources like food, water and shelter,” she said.
“The new plants will not only enhance the visual amenity of Tarralla Creek but will also help support the functioning of the wetland ecosystem, improving the resilience of the local habitat.”
Having been working to enhance the Tarralla Creek Wetlands, alongside Melbourne Water, since 2020, the re-naturalisation had a goal of introducing over 80,000 ephemeral, terrestrial and aquatic plants to the space.
The council’s modelling identified the Tarralla Creek as one of eight ‘biolinks’ – an important habitat corridor for wildlife in Maroondah – making the tree planting day another step in encouraging the natural regeneration of fauna and flora.
With Tarralla Creek extending from Croydon through Croydon South and then linking up with the Bungalook Creek in Heathmont, Cr Spears said it creates a “vital local habitat corridor”.
This corridor allows fauna and flora to move between other patches, whether on private property or bushland areas, sustaining local wildlife populations.
“As the vegetation and the wetland of Tarralla Creek mature, we expect to see more nature drawn into the Croydon region,” Cr Spears said.
“We are already seeing waterbirds that have not been seen previously in this area now present in the wetlands, which is exciting to see.”
Hosting a National Tree Day event last year, Cr Spears said saw an incredible 200 people get involved and she can only expect this year “to be just as big”.
“Tree planting is a great way for the local community to connect with and contribute to their local environment. It provides a sense of meaningful contribution and is rewarding to watch the tree you planted grow,” she said.
“Being a part of an event like this is a great starting point for being involved in your local community, and we hope it encourages people to join their local bushland volunteer group.”
Co-hosting alongside First Friends of Dandenong Creek and the Friends of Tarralla Creek brings a “specialised local knowledge” and an opportunity for potential members to learn about the environmental offerings in their area.
With so many benefits coming from a single day’s effort, Cr Spears said she hopes to see lots of people there but registrations are essential.
“The National Tree Day event is a great opportunity for the council to engage residents in important environmental conservation efforts and facilitate positive social interactions within the community.
“Looking after the local environment provides a sense of pride and ownership in the community. The event enhances the natural environment, facilitates education opportunities for children, strengthens social connection and allows the community to connect with nature to improve mental and physical wellbeing.”
The event kicks off at 10am at Eastfield Park, entering from the south end of Lusher Road, with environment stalls and kids activities also on offer. Visit the Maroondah Council website for more information.
