Strathfield Council is calling on Strathfield residents to get involved in Australia’s biggest community tree planting event on Sunday 26 July.

Strathfield will host a National Tree Day and family fun day event at Bressington Park, Homebush from 9am – 1pm, where residents can plant a tree and enjoy a fun family day out.

“National Tree Day is a great community event that gives residents the opportunity to contribute directly to improving Strathfield’s natural areas. It is an enjoyable day for the whole family that will have long lasting benefits for the environment and the community,” said Mayor of Strathfield, Cr Gulian Vaccari.

National Tree Day is a Planet Ark initiative that began in 1996 and has seen more than 2.8 million volunteers plant 17 million native trees, shrubs and grasses.

Recent National Tree Day events in Strathfield have seen significant numbers of native plants added to the local area. In 2012 and 2013 Strathfield residents helped to plant over 6000 native plants in Ford Park. Last year, another 3000 plants were planted in Cooke Park. Council is aiming to continue the success of the event in 2015.

The new location, Bressington Park, was originally a tidal swamp populated by mangroves. It is located in the Parramatta River catchment area and forms part of a high priority biodiversity corridor from Powells Creek to Homebush West. Plantings on National Tree Day will assist with improving the habitat within the corridor, ensuring native animal populations in the area will continue to grow.

The plants species that will be planted on National Tree Day are local to the area and will be supplied by Strathfield Council’s nursery.

Everyone who comes along to plant a tree can also enjoy a barbecue lunch, while the kids are entertained by a jumping castle, animal farm and reptile display.

To register for National Tree Day at Cooke Park, visit treeday.planetark.org.