Council’s National Tree Day events will take place at Karoola Park and Volunteer Park in Muswellbrook and across the road from Hyde Park in Denman on Sunday, July 29, from 9.30am. 

There will be a free barbecue lunch and volunteers are asked to wear long sleeves and pants, a hat, covered shoes and sunglasses and to bring a water bottle. 

“National Tree Day is one of the best ways to connect in nature and with our communities, do our bit for our local environment and experience the many benefits of spending time outdoors,” council’s sustainability officer Tracy Ward said.

Last year more than 250,000 people participated in National Tree Day, planting in excess of 920,000 plants at around 3200 sites. 

This brings the initiative’s overall tally of trees planted to almost 24.5 million over 23 years. 

Planet Ark's CEO Rebecca Gilling hopes that Australians will beat last year’s planting count and plant at least a million trees, grasses and shrubs.

“The number of trees planted is great to see but what matters most to us is seeing people connecting with each other in nature, using tools as simple as shovels and as complicated as smartphones to better understand and care for our natural environment,” she said.

The theme for 2018 – Connect In Nature – looks at the myriad ways in which technology can enhance time outdoors and enrich our appreciation for the natural world using apps and other digital resources. 

National Tree Day is organised by Planet Ark in partnership with Toyota Australia and its Dealer Network, which provides on-the-ground support at tree planting sites across Australia.

For more information about National Tree Day sites in Muswellbrook and Denman, contact council’s sustainability officer Tracy Ward on 6549 3778 or Planet Ark communications manager Josh Cole on 8484 7202.