Over 1,400 local native seedlings were planted at Jorgensen Park by 60 community volunteers from the Friends of Jorgensen Park, Walliston Primary School, Maida Vale Scout Group, local business representatives and community volunteers.

This is the second year of planting at Jorgensen Park for National Tree Day, and since the project begun there have been around 9,000 native plants planted at the site, which use to be choked with weeds. The project was initiated by the Friends of Jorgensen Park with support from the City of Kalamunda, and has benefited from funding and in-kind support from Swan Alcoa Landcare Program, Planet Ark, Toyota, the Bibbulmun Track Foundation, Perth NRM, local Noongar Elders and over 150 community members.

City Mayor John Giardina joined in the planting, saying “It was great to see so many people come and support this local community driven project.”

“Visitors to the park can see last years and this year’s plantings, as well as birds, reptiles, frogs and local quenda.”

The National Tree Day planting this year has returned native species to the site, which was a former Golf Course, many of which are food plants for the threatened Black Cockatoos which roost at Jorgensen Park.

Since its inception National Tree Day has seen Australians plant over 25 million trees around the country.

Schools Tree Day and National Tree Day are Australia’s largest annual tree-planting and nature care events and take place on Friday 26 July and Sunday 28 July. This is an initiative organised by Planet Ark in partnership with Toyota Australia.

The theme for 2019 was Living Cities, looking at the benefits trees and green spaces bring to our urban environment in terms of our personal health and wellbeing, the liveability of our cities and dealing with the impacts of climate change. Seventy percent of Australians believe their individual actions have an impact on global environmental issues like climate change, and there’s no better way to act than planting a tree.

For information on how to get involved with the Friends of Jorgensen Park, or to join or start your own Friends Group in Kalamunda, contact 9257 9089 or email environment@kalamunda.wa.gov.au