Native trees and grasses provide an abundance of benefits for the local environment, including creating habitat and cooling down the temperature.
That’s why the Tamworth Urban Landcare Group continues to plant hundreds of trees each year for National Tree Day.
More than 25 volunteers rocked up to plant 220 trees along the Peel River for National Tree Day.
Beginning in 2007, the group has been planting trees along the Peel River making their way downstream from Bridge Street.
This year, they planted 220 trees at a section on Jewry Street.
“We had more than 25 volunteers come out and help us, with some as young as three to others well into their 80s,” told Paul Moxon a member of the Tamworth Urban Landcare Group.
Every year on the last Sunday in July, around 300,000 Australians volunteer their time to engage in environmental activities that help educate Australians about the world around them while maintaining and enhancing the environment for local wildlife.
Over the past 26 years, National Tree Day has had 5 million volunteers with 26 million trees planted benefiting the ecosystems of both land and water.
Tamoworth volunteer and keen fisher, Anne Michie likes to call it trees for fish, proving to everyone you shouldn’t judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree.
“Research shows that at least 40 per cent of a native fish’s diet comes from the trees overhanging the water and the strip up to 50 metres away from the water’s edge,” she said.
“That’s why it’s so important to have all these trees down by the river so insects can feed off the ecosystem and in turn feed the fish, while also allowing fallen branches to create snags in the river, creating homes for river life.”
Among the plants planted this year were clumps of shrubs that will grow to be dense providing a place for small birds to nest and hide in.
But Paul also said planting trees along the Peel River is just another way of recreating into the future, providing shade and other comfort for people fishing, kayaking, and picnicking.