By Jed Lanyon
Healesville Environmental Watch Inc. (HEWI) and community members took part in National Tree Day on Sunday 28 July.
National Tree Day is an initiative by Planet Ark as a call to action for all Australians to put their hands in the earth and give back to their community.
Each year about 300,000 people volunteer their time to engage in environmental activities that aim to educate individuals about the world around them.
HEWI project facilitator Karen Garth said that 21 volunteers planted over 800 native plants along the Grace Burn.
“There’s a further 200 to be planted there by high school students in the next few weeks, making our tally 1000 plants.
Ms Garth said that Yarra Ranges Council supplied the plants for HEWI’s third planting event at the site.
According to Planet Ark, a 5 per cent increase in tree cover can reduce nearby daytime temperatures by 2.3C, which could be crucial as heatwaves cost more lives than all other climate change impacts combined.
Planet Ark Deputy CEO Rebecca Gilling said, “It’s heartening to hear that Australians think that individual action can make a positive impact on our environment.
“National Tree Day is an excellent opportunity to work together on a local level to benefit your community and the environment at large.”
