National Tree Day in Lithgow
National Tree Day in Lithgow
Supporting and increasing strategic community engagement
Local Links - Stronger Communities -
LLCI002-009
The issue
Farmers Creek is the principal waterway flowing though the Lithgow urban area. The creek is highly modified and has been largely cleared of native vegetation due to early coal mining exploits. Many Landcare groups have worked on various sections of the degraded riparian corridor over the years; most with the general aim of revegetation to improve biodiversity as a higher order goal, or to improve overall landscape aesthetics.
To date there hasn't been a guiding framework to support these initiatives which has in some cases resulted in a mosaic of disjointed work efforts, plantings of non-local provenance or disjunct works within the same landscape.
The solution
A Masterplan for the whole of Farmers Creek has recently been developed by Lithgow City Council in close consultation with Lithgow Oberon Landcare and the Section 355 Environmental Advisory Committee. This document outlines an holistic approach to strategically improving the biodiversity assets and values within the valley floor of the Lithgow valley via restoration and revegetation of degraded urban riparian corridor. A key feature of the plan is to establish the formation of walking tracks and cycle trails within green open spaces and along the riparian corridor.
The National Tree Day event was held in September via Albert St near the sportsgrounds in Lithgow followed by a free sausage sizzle hosted by the Lithgow Lions Club. The National Tree Day event was broadly promoted as a family friendly event and an opportunity for people to do something positive for the community and the environment.
The impact
The National Tree day event provided a good opportunity for a broader level of community involvement and interest in Landcare. Training was provided at the site as a number of volunteers on the day had never planted a tree before. The staged and strategic approach outlined for re-establishing native vegetation and maintaining creekbank stability within the Masterplan was demonstrated through the day’s activities. Including Lithgow Mayor Stephen Lesslie, there were 26 attendees who planted 300 native species thereby improving over 0.5ha of Farmers Creek riparian zone.
Learnings
Utilising well known events such as National Tree day to ‘piggy back’ on can attract a broader level of community involvement and interest in Landcare activities.
Having a local and regional framework to coordinate and define riparian restoration and community engagement activities provides a useful and strategic approach for the community.
Key facts
- 26 people planted 300 native plants improving over 0.5ha of riparian corridor.
- Local strategic planning such as the Farmers Creek Masterplan was promoted, working within a best practice approach.
- The sense of community is strengthened by working together for a common purpose.