Get planting this National Tree Day with Dutch Thunder and Planet Ark

By Contributed

Jul 1, 2024

Thirty-seven registered tree planting volunteers aged between one and 80 years old joined Dutch Thunder Wildlife Rescue’s Kylee Donkers to take part in the 2023 Community Tree Day event.

Dutch Thunder Wildlife Rescue is seeking residents to get their hands dirty for the environment this National Tree Day, to be held later this month.

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Dutch Thunder and the Bunnings Yarrawonga community team, along with Planet Ark, are inviting local residents to dig in and do something good for nature and their community as part of National Tree Day 2024.

Dutch Thunder Wildlife’s founder Kylee Donkers said National Tree Day was a great opportunity to enhance our beautiful environment for our local wildlife as well as ensuring the region continues to be a great place to live and receive all the benefits that come from spending time outdoors.

“Over 27 million trees have been planted by more than five million volunteers since 1996 as part of the program, and we are excited for our local community to be a part of supporting the goal of getting another million native plants in the ground this year,” Ms Donkers said.

“Our local schools’ tree day will be on Monday, July 22 and then the community National Tree Day on Sunday, July 28.”

This year's plantings are going to be a part of the Community Bush Tucker Garden project in Koonoomoo.

They are part of Australia’s largest annual tree-planting and nature care event, with plantings taking place across the country on the last weekend of July.

These National Tree Days are taking place in Koonoomoo at the Community Bush Tucker Garden, which is part of the Dutch Thunder Wildlife Shelter site, on Sunday July, 26 from 10am to 3pm.

Approximately 200 native trees, shrubs and grasses will be planted at the site.

Residents can register to volunteer to take part via treeday.planetark.org/find-a-site/

Planet Ark CEO Rebecca Gilling said the triple environmental crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution were clearly having a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of Australians.

“Engaging with nature through pro-environmental behaviours like planting trees provides an opportunity to combat climate distress, especially among young people,” Ms Gilling said.

“Along with the obvious environmental benefits, planting trees also provides hope for the future and helps people to feel they are part of the solution.”

National Tree Day is an initiative organised by Planet Ark in partnership with major sponsor Toyota Australia and its dealer network.

For more information and to find events in your local area, please visit treeday.planetark.org