ABOUT 1200 trees have been planted in the Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) area to mark National Tree Day yesterday.
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Trees were planted at Barraba, Manilla, Nundle and Tamworth, with at least six community groups involved in Tamworth including the Tamworth Bushwalking and Canoe Club, whose members planted trees at Kingswood.
Many trees were also planted at two parks in Tamworth – Burgess Park and Altona Park .
National Tree Day also encompasses schools, which usually do their plantings on the Friday.
This year, 22 schools took part across the council area, TRC senior parks and horticulture officer Hugh Leckie said.
Some schools, such as Hillvue Public School, planted trees on Friday but will also plant trees at the Marsupial Park in Tamworth tomorrow.
The pupils at St Edward’s planted trees with their grandparents during Grandparents’ Day, Landcare schools liaison officer John Tucker said.
“Landcare was very fortunate to be included in their grandparents’ day. About 35 to 40 trees were planted in the pupil’s recess area,” Mr Tucker said.
About 25 trees were planted at Hillvue Public.
National Tree Day is an initiative of Planet Ark and it is also sponsored by Toyota.
“Neil Driver from Tamworth Toyota is a great supporter of anything we do at Landcare,” Mr Tucker said.
Mr Leckie said 160 trees and shrubs were planted at Burgess Park and some new garden beds were also created.
Resident Scotty Miller, who was there with his son, Bailey, said it was a no-brainer to help.
“Yeah, why not?” he said. “It’s a great community thing. For a couple of hours of your time on one day of the year it’s a great benefit to the community for the other 364.”
He said with the new swings installed by council about three months ago, it had created a great spot for children and families to enjoy.
Up to 600 trees and shrubs were planted at Altona Park.
Tamworth Urban Landcare, led by Paul Moxon, also directed about 20 people on the banks of the Peel River near the skate park to plant 50 trees.
“We not only renewed and revegetated certain areas, we planted some new areas,” Mr Tucker said.
Mr Leckie said trees this year were supplied by Gunnedah Forest Nursery – but council was in discussions with the Friends of the Tamworth Regional Botanic Garden to see them supply seedlings for next year’s National Tree Day.
