National Tree Day
Planet Ark's National Tree Day started in 1996 and has grown into Australia's largest community tree planting and nature care event.
Queanbeyan Landcare has participated in every National Tree Day working with Council and other community groups or organising our own celebratory plantings.
2025 National Tree Day
National Tree Day in 2025 was held on Sunday 27 July at The Scar off Southbar Road, Karabar. Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (QPRC), Queanbeyan Landcare and more than 120 community volunteers started the task of turning a disturbed, bare site into a multi-species, structurally diverse area of native vegetation for wildlife and urban cooling.
The planting site selected sits between the BMX Track and the Dog Park. The area was a quarry and then the city rubbish tip. The soil used to remediate the site is poor with previous plantings showing slow growth, but pH testing showed only slightly acid soils and soil moisture in 2025 was good. Two planting sites were selected, the main one being on the flat at the base of the steeper eroded slopes of Mount Jerrabomberra. The Mount Jerrabomberra Story has further history on this site.
The site was ripped in June by Marc Van Dyk from Black Earthworks & Civil who once again assisted preparation for this significant community event. The second site is under a line of small Eucalypts that were planted some years ago between Southbar Road and the main planting area, suitable for additional understory plantings.
Ian Johnson, Tom Baker and Steve Dovers from Queanbeyan Landcare created a plant list sourced from our own local stock (50), stock held from the Upper Murrumbidgee/Shoalhaven Landcare network’s Tree Start Program (154) and plants donated by the Royalla Landcare Group (40) and cared for by Bill Hall. Plants from these sources totalled 244.
Community Provided Species:
Eucalyptus mannifera (Brittle Gum) – 45
Eucalyptus sideroxylon (Iron Bark) - 5
E. macrorhyncha Red Stringy Bark) - 15
E. melliodora (Yellow Box) - 25
E. Polyanthemos (Red Box) - 10
E. nortonii (Large flowered Mealy Bundy) – 15
Allocasuarina verticillata (Drooping Sheoak) - 5
Acacia falciformis (Broad leafed hickory wattle) – 5
Acacia dealbata (Silver Wattle) – 23
Acacia melanyoxylon (Blackwood Wattle) - 12
Dodonaea viscosa (sp angustissima) - 14
Melaleuca (?) - 2
Dianellas and Lomandras – 12
Danthonia sp (Wallaby grass) – 50
QPRC purchased 350 plants from Greening Australia:
Acacia rubida (Red-stemmed Wattle) – 40
Callitris endlicheri (Black cypress pine – 20
Hakea decurrens ssp decurrens (Bushy needlewood) – 20
Allocasuarine verticillata (Drooping sheoak) – 20
Callistemon sieberi (River Bottlebrush) – 20
Eucalytus polyanthemos (Red Box) – 20
Hardenbergia violacea (False Sarsaparilla) – 60
Vittadinia muelleri (Narrowleaf New-Holland-Daisy) – 20
Xerochrysum viscosum (Sticky everlasting) – 20
Chrysocephalum semipapposum (Clustered Everlasting) – 10
Chrysocephalum apiculatum (Common Everlasting or Yellow Buttons) – 10
Craspedia variabilis (Billy Buttons) – 10
Leptospermum obovatum (River teatree) – 20
Acacia gunnii (Ploughshare Wattle, Dog's-tooth Wattle) – 20
Brachychiton populneus (Kurrajong) - 40
Planting Plan
The Eucalyptus and Casuarina were planted 5 metres apart along the rip lines. These were infilled with Acacias, Callitris and Kurrajongs. In addition, unusual for community plantings in Queanbeyan, patches of various groundcover daisies, hardenbergia vines and native grasses were added.
The planting was relatively dense, insurance for a site with poor, compacted soil (mostly fill) with poor drainage. Soil was moist from recent rain, pooling on lower patches. Most of the site had been ripped prior to the event - ripping makes planting easier, and enables water and root penetration, especially on harder ground like this.
However on the day at least 200 holes were dug with powered augers. This enabled expansion of the main planting site and was used throughout the second planting site for the groundcovers that will be a feature in this area. Auger holes are not always as successful as ripping, being shallower and not as wide as rip lines, but useful in areas not accessible to machinery.
It will be important to compare how the two approaches perform and also how plants in the very wet areas perform.
There are many advantages with grouping a variety of types of plants fairly close together. It increases microclimate protection, habitat diversity, soil health, pest and disease resistance, pollinator attraction and aesthetic appeal. Small birds benefit significantly from these denser plantings as they provide nesting and feeding habitat and refuge from predators and threat.
Emery J from QPRC was the organiser of this event however he included Ian, Tom and Steve at all stages of the planning of this day and was more than happy to discuss and revise plant choice and planting position with Bruce D, Ian and Tom on the day.
Additional Queanbeyan Landcare members attended to assist with the crowd of more than 120 community volunteers, to ensure plants were placed correctly in the harsh soil - explaining site preparation, planting techniques, placement of tree guards and stakes, watering and the spreading of mulch. Thanks to all our members who attended on the day - including Fran C, Bob C, Mark P, Marc v D, Helen E, Lizzy S, Michele D, Gary M, David G, Tom J, Malcolm B, Lindsay P, Di J, Lindsay J, Jodie R, Chris H, Melissa C and David B.
Community volunteers included 10 – 15 from a local Queanbeyan companies, 10 Scouts and their families from across the region and 50 volunteers from the Sikh community.
It was cold and windy, but the plants were in the ground, warm drinks from the Peak-me-up coffee van consumed and the site cleaned up by 12 noon. The Sikh community provided a lovely curry for the end of a great day.
The site at The Scar will require continued care and monitoring in the months and years to come. Follow-up watering, weeding, and maintenance will be critical to ensuring the survival and flourishing of the young plants but Queanbeyan Landcare has a proven long-term commitment to this area, including planting for shade in the adjacent off-lead and BMX complex many years ago.
We will be supporting Council to ensure this site provides additional habitat for native wildlife, a cool space to escape urban heating and an important community asset. Over time if growth occurs as we imagine we could change the name from ‘The Scar’ to ‘Southbar Community Park’.
Photos courtesy of Michele Dovers, Leanne Coleman and Fran Curtis
2024 National Tree Day
In late 2023 and throughout 2024 the group has tended to the 2023 planting site and prepared the 2024 site. Mulching, mowing, spraying, staking and replacing damaged tree guards took place. Most of the plants were thriving, though some were damaged due to a tree fall and we suspect feral deer.
The 2024 site was an extension of the 2023 site, continuing along Barracks Creek towards Queanbeyan River.
The planting plan remained the same, strengthening and thickening the corridor along the creek towards the Queanbeyan River.
Site preparation focussed on weed control and ripping. We would like to thank and acknowledge Marc van Dyk from Black Earthworks & Civil who volunteered their time and machinery to rip the site. Members who regularly volunteered their time and energy include Glen & Alison Crawley, Ian Johnsson, Bruce Taloni, Dave Grey, Michele & Steve Dovers and Tom Baker. Also John, Kat, Joel, Lindsay and Di & Lindsay. QPRC helped with spraying and mulch supply. And Les Murray who along with Tom and Michele propagated many of the plants provided by Queanbeyan Landcare.
Sunday started with light rain, some hail and temperatures around 0 degree Celsius but the clouds soon cleared, and the wind dropped so a very pleasant working temperature. Over 100 Volunteers turned up and planted over 600 plants guided by our team of wonderful Supervisors. Once again many Community Groups joined the many local volunteers.
The logistics of the event were organised by staff at QPRC. They promoted the event, organised a bus to bring volunteers to the site, provided the tools, tree guards, stakes, mulch, gloves, first aid kits, the coffee van Bean Culture. Josie Grenfell from Food2Soil brought along a nutritious tonic for the plantings.
Queanbeyan Landcare’s tasks included site preparation, plant selection, plant placement and the identification of Supervisors who would guide the many volunteers on how to plant, where to plant, tree guard construction, watering and mulching. Once again Black Earthworks & Civil stepped in and provided a water truck for the event.
Over 600 plants were sourced:
279 from Queanbeyan Landcare (propagated by Tom, Michele or Les)
70 x Callistemon sieberi, River Bottlebrush
35 x Melalueca parvistaminea, River Melaleuca or Swampy Paperbark
65 x Gynatrix pulchella, Hemp Bush
20 x Kunzea ericoides, Burgan
35 x Dodonea viscosa, Hopbush
30 x Poa labillardieri, River Tussock
20 x Lomandra longifolia, Spiny Headed Matrush
4 x Callitris endlicheri, Black Cypress Pine
79 from Greening Australia (old stock, many root bound - free)
26 x Bursaria spinosa, Sweet Bursaria or Australian Blackthorn
41 x assorted Wattles, mainly Acacia mearnsii, Green Wattle and Acacia rubida, Red-stemmed Wattle
10 x Dodonea viscosa, hopbush
2 x Eucalypts (species unknown
280 by QPRC
15 x Eucalyptus viminalis, Ribbon Gum
10 x Eucalyptus melliodora, Yellow Box
40 x Eucalyptus blakeleyi, Blakely’s Red Gum
35 x Casuarina cunninghamiana, River Sheoak
25 x Acacia mearnsii, Black Wattle
25 x Acacia dealbata, Silver Wattle
40 x Acacia pravissima, Ovens Wattle
10 x Callitris endlicheri, Black Cypress Pine
40 x Acacia rubida, Red-stemmed Wattle
20 x Acacia implexa, Hickory Wattle
20 x Acacia pycnantha, Golden Wattle
Photos courtesy of Michele Dovers and Fran Curtis
2023 National Tree Day
On Sunday 30th July 2023, Barracks Creek Reserve was the site of the National Tree Day event planned by Queanbeyan Landcare and QPRC. Hundreds of native trees and shrubs were planted along the eastern edge of Barracks Creek, in the area north of Barracks Creek Drive, across from the Barracks Flat Neighbourhood Park.
Queanbeyan Landcare and Queanbeyan Palerang Regional Council worked together to plant 400 native trees, shrubs and grasses for National Tree Day on 30 July in 2023.
Over 160 volunteers joined the planting which took place at Barracks Flat Creek in Karabar, over an area of 600 square metres (seen above). The site was chosen as it reinforces a critical vegetation and habitat link between surrounding natural areas, achieves many of the goals identified in the QPRC Urban Forest Cooling Strategy, provides habitat and stabilisation along Barracks Creek, and has potential for extension including possible future National Tree Day plantings.
Members of Queanbeyan Landcare took account of the recent history of the site to develop a planting plan (Initial plan, history, and other observations). They viewed aerial images of the area from 2010 to 2023 and searched QPRC archives to identify what plantings had previously occurred on the site and who had been involved.
The final species list was determined with reference to publications from QPRC, Molonglo Conservation Group, the local knowledge of our members and an understanding of the plants most suitable to a warming climate. Some 400 plants were planted, staked and mulched, including several local Eucalypt species, along with wattles, tea-tree and other native shrubs, and a range of smaller shrubs and grasses. Many community groups and families from Queanbeyan and Canberra pitched in along with Queanbeyan Landcare Members and QPRC staff.
References:
QPRC Urban Forest Cooling Strategy December 2021
QPRC Climate Change vulnerability of Urban Trees
Photos courtesy of Michele Dovers and Bill Hall
2022 National Tree Day
In 2022 Queanbeyan Landcare and over 100 volunteers worked closely with QPRC on an extensive planting along the Queanbeyan River that aimed to supplement, restore and rejuvenate previous plantings in this area. Our History & Achievements page includes details of this event including plant lists and many images.
Read the full History Story for Old Riverside Cemetery here.
2021
In 2021 over 65 residents from across Queanbeyan and Canberra planted 650 trees in just over two hours at Fernleigh Park.
