More than 50 community volunteers joined Port Macquarie Hastings Council and Hastings Landcare at Bunderra Reserve, Beechwood, on Sunday 27 July to celebrate National Tree Day.
Volunteers of all ages came together to transform a previously weedy reserve into an enhanced habitat for wildlife and recreation. The day resulted in planting more than 500 native grasses, shrubs and trees, creating a diverse mix of groundcover, mid-storey and canopy vegetation to support biodiversity, improve habitat for native wildlife and contribute to a healthier waterway.
The planting included a range of native species carefully selected to suit the site’s conditions, including Lomandra, Carex, Native Ginger (Alpinia), Water Gum (Tristaniopsis laurina), Waterhousia, Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus grandis), Tuckeroo (Cupaniopsis anacardioides) and other locally suitable species.
Groundcover species such as Lomandra and Carex play an important role in stabilising the landscape and filtering runoff, while flowering species such as Native Ginger provide food and shelter for birds, insects and other native fauna. Over time, canopy trees will establish shade, improve habitat connectivity and help create a thriving native ecosystem.
Get involved in caring for our environment
We are fortunate to have a number of dedicated environmental and recreational volunteer groups helping care for spaces and places across the Port Macquarie Hastings region.
If you are interested in getting involved, visit our Volunteering page to learn more about these groups and for current volunteering opportunities.
