Critically endangered local tree species join 100,000 stems added to Sydney footprint

Greening Australia’s Michael Gregg and Sydney Local Health District’s Andrew Vickery with 8,000 of the 100,000 trees planted across Sydney’s footprint. Credit Toby Peet.

Greening Australia and the NSW Government are celebrating reaching the milestone of 100,000 trees planted across the Greater Sydney footprint through the Rewilding Sydney program.

The milestone was reached earlier this month with the planting of 8,000 trees at Yaralla Estate in Concord West, on the banks of the Paramatta River just 20 minutes from Sydney CBD.

The planting is designed to enhance and extend the remnant native vegetation found at the estate, including the critically endangered Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest ecological community.

Greening Australia, Sydney Local Health District, Canada Bay Council and the Yaralla Estate Community Advisory Committee collaborated to get the planting at Yaralla Estate underway.

The Yaralla Estate plantings will enhance and extend a stand of critically endangered Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest. Credit Toby Peet.

“The benefit of bringing more biodiversity and canopy cover into cities – for the wellbeing of both humans and non-humans – is pretty much undisputed. But finding places to plant can be tricky. Space is at a premium, and there are so many stakeholders and uses to consider, so collaborations like these are vital,” said Michael Gregg, Greening Australia’s Land and Restoration Lead in Sydney.

“To paint the picture, we’ve planted 100,000 trees for Rewilding Sydney so far, at 14 different locations in eight local government areas across the Greater Sydney footprint, and every site is different. It’s been special to reach the 100K milestone with the planting at Yaralla Estate because it exemplifies working together to enhance underused space, create vital green stepping stones in built-up residential areas, provide places for humans and wildlife alike to rest and play, and do something tried and true to tackle urban heat.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully, said the NSW Government is committed to increasing tree canopy and biodiversity in urban areas.

“Our Urban Greening and Biodiversity in Place programs are working to protect, restore and create biodiversity within our cities and towns, helping to make sure our wildlife can flourish in a shared built environment.

“We are also working to mitigate the impacts of urban heat by expanding tree canopies and biodiverse understorey plantings to make our communities resilient against rising temperatures.

“The NSW Government is looking at new ways to green our urban spaces and introduce nature-positive approaches through ecologically rich planting in parks, reserves, roads, and railway corridors.”

Michael chatting about the planting with passersby. He said there has been a very positive response from locals. Credit Toby Peet.

Only 0.5 percent of the Sydney Turpentine-Ironbark Forest’s original extent remains intact, making the stand at Yaralla Estate a rare haven for a spectacular array of birdlife including honeyeaters, wrens, and parrots, as well as a variety of mammals.

The plant species for the restoration project have been carefully selected to complement and extend the native vegetation already found on the estate, based on mapped vegetation communities and diagnostic species lists, and the final selection includes a mix of canopy tree species (29%), mid-storey species (45%) and shrub species (26%).

“Ecologically there’s really clear benefits from increasing canopy cover here with appropriate species, to both enhance the remnant vegetation communities found here, and to extend the area planted, which will hopefully increase the resilience of this remnant overall,” said Darin Wills, Urban Forester for Canada Bay Council.

“In the remnants, we’re looking to build on past bush regeneration work and transform some woody weed patches by establishing a native overstorey and shrub layer. As time goes on, the planted areas and remnant areas will interact, and it’ll be great to see enriched habitat and food sources for birds, insects and mammals like flying foxes.”

The planting at Yaralla builds on existing mature vegetation, increasing the resilience of this important green stepping-stone of habitat in Sydney’s urban footprint. Credit Toby Peet.

Plants and animals are not the only beneficiaries of increased canopy cover – there are also strong health and wellbeing implications for surrounding residents.

Urban heat island analysis undertaken by Canada Bay Council, included in its Urban Tree Canopy Strategy, found that the peninsula where the planting is taking place is one of the hottest spots in the council area.

The health of the community was a key consideration for Sydney Local Health District and Yaralla Estate Community Advisory Committee, in deciding to make the land available for the planting project.

Andrew Vickery, Gardens & Grounds Manager for Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) said: “The Yaralla Estate is in Concord West next to Concord Repatriation General Hospital and has been managed by SLHD since 1988 with several health services operating within the grounds. It’s such a unique site and a real asset to SLHD and the local community since the grounds are open year-round for anyone to walk around and explore.”

Andrew (L) said the green space at Yaralla Estate, close to local health services and residences, is an asset for community wellbeing. Credit Toby Peet.

“Increasing our green space here at Yaralla will have numerous health and ecological benefits for our patients and the local community. These plantings will grow and create a microclimate effect which will over time help with urban heat, improving air quality and create more habitat areas for native wildlife. Not to mention all the benefits of improving the physical and mental health outcomes for our patients.

“Yaralla Estate is a place where people can come and walk among the trees and the foreshore areas or sit on the grass in the open paddocks, it’s a place to come and relax and de-stress. SLHD is very proud of this collaboration with Canada Bay Council and Greening Australia.”

Greening Australia’s Rewilding Sydney program, funded by the NSW Government, is set to plant 170,000 trees across the Greater Sydney footprint by the end of 2025.

 
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