Stuart Zullo 
The Liverpool City Council and Planet Ark are encouraging everyone in the local community to get involved in this year’s National Tree Day taking place on Sunday 27 July.
National Tree Day is Australia’s largest tree planting and nature care event, with over 200,000 people taking part in Tree Day events every year.
Councils, schools, businesses, communities and Toyota Dealers across Australia all help to make the day a success, and since its inception in 1996, National Tree Day has helped contribute to the planting of 20 million native trees, shrubs and grasses.
In Liverpool alone, National Tree Day helps contribute to about 5,000 new native trees, plants and groundcovers.
So why should we all be making an effort to plant more trees? Well apart from the obvious aesthetic benefits of having trees and plants in our neighbourhoods, trees also have practical benefits such as helping with storm water management, reducing the need for air-conditioning and improving air quality.
Believe it or not, trees and plants also help reduce stress and promote physical activity and they can be productivity boosters in the workplace.
If you want to help plant more trees in Liverpool for National Tree Day this year, there will be a tree-planting event at South Park in Chipping Norton (on Charlton Avenue).
Those intending to head along are encouraged to wear enclosed shoes, a hat, sunscreen and a long sleeved shirt, and to bring a water bottle and gloves if they have them. The council will provide all tools and refreshments, including a free BBQ lunch for all participants. There will also be a face painter for children and an interactive wildlife display for everyone to enjoy.
Liverpool’s tree planting event will be a great opportunity to connect with nature and the local community, but don’t forget that you can also get involved with National Tree Day by planting more trees and plants at your own home.
If you want to find out more about National Tree Day, visit http://treeday.planetark.org/.
And if you want to find out more about Liverpool’s National Tree Day event you can contact Sonya Rayes on 1300 362 170.