Greater Geelong residents are being encouraged to get involved in a tree planting day.
The City of Greater Geelong is seeking volunteers to get their hands dirty to help green one of the scenic shared path corridors.
Planting will focus on a section of the Ted Wilson Trail behind Haines Reserve, in Hamlyn Heights.
Tools and equipment will be provided, with participants also able to enjoy refreshments and a barbecue hosted by the Lions Club.
Councillor 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,” Cr Aitken said.
“The trees will grow to create a green boundary and provide natural shade for pedestrians and cyclists using the trail.”
The 12km-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,” Cr Aitken said.
“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 National Tree Day event will be held at 9.30am on Sunday 31 July.
Pre-registration at treeday.planetark.org/site/10027143 is encouraged but not essential.
Volunteers can meet along the trail at the rear of Haines Reserve in Wilks Street, Hamlyn Heights.
The event is supported by the City of Greater Geelong’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
