MEMBERS of the community showed their support for National Tree Day on Saturday by coming out to plant native varieties in O’Keefe Park.
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The park, just off Eglinton Road at Abercrombie, was the final section of the riverbank to be repopulated by Bathurst Regional Council.
Council had 500 native trees, shrubs and grasses ready to plant on the day, the varities chosen being local and native to the Bathurst area.
A demonstration of the correct way to plant was carried out first and then participants were able to continue on their own.
Tree guards and frost protectant were also added during the planting session to give the trees the best chance of survival.
Environmental programs coordinator Stevie Armstrong said the trees would provide habitats for native animals, including the critically endangered regent honeyeater.
“They’re critically endangered because we’ve lost a lot of their habitat over the years’ historical clearing,” she said.
“They move through the Bathurst area, because they’re nomadic, on their way up to the Capertee, which is where their breeding habitat is. So we’re planting habitat along [the riverbank] and they’ll use that for resting sites on the way up.”
Council holds regular tree planting days throughout the year that promote the values of National Tree Day and members of the community are always invited to attend.
The events are advertised on the Sustainable Bathurst Facebook page or council’s website.