The City of Perth is planting more than 3,400 native plants on the northern side of Heirisson Island this Sunday, and it’s asking the public to turn up and help. The National Tree Day community planting runs from 10:00 am to 11:30 am, with the Lord Mayor, Councillors, City staff, and volunteers all on the tools.
It’s suitable for all ages, but you will need to register. Then, all you have to do is show up along with sturdy, clean shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, a hat, and a water bottle. Light refreshments are available on site.
The planting sits inside the City’s Urban Forest Plan (2016–2036) and its target of 30% tree canopy cover by 2036. The State Government’s 2024 canopy data put average cover across the Perth and Peel regions at 22%, and Perth has long held the unwanted title of the least leafy capital city in the country.
Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds said National Tree Day was a chance for the community to make a lasting contribution to Perth’s future.
“Creating one of Australia’s greenest capital cities is one of the City of Perth’s highest priorities,” Reynolds said. “We’ve set an ambitious goal of achieving 30 per cent tree canopy by 2036, and we’ll only achieve that by working together with our community.”
The species being planted on Heirisson Island are all natives chosen to strengthen the local ecosystem and create habitat for native wildlife, in a spot where the Swan River ecology gives them a reasonable shot at survival.
Can’t make it? Plant something at home
Of course, to make our city greener, it takes more than the City of Perth planting in public spaces. Your front and back gardens are equally important. So if you can’t make it this Sunday to Heirisson Island, you are encouraged to plant some native plants in your gardens. Mid-winter is the right time to be doing it, too — native tubestock planted now gets a full wet season to establish roots before summer arrives.
Perth has plenty of specialist native nurseries. Zanthorrea in the hills carries over 600 varieties of Australian plants and sells tubestock from $5.95 each. Trillion Trees runs a community nursery at Hazelmere, where the money goes back into its restoration and education work. Native Plants WA, a not-for-profit in the southern suburbs, has been propagating WA seedlings since 1979. Or there are the many local nurseries and garden centres that you can drop into.
If you’re planting an actual tree rather than shrubs or groundcover, the Cook Government’s Treebate scheme will refund the purchase price up to $150.00. The tree needs to be an Australian native reaching at least three metres at maturity, bought from a WA retailer, and planted on your own property. Claims go through the ServiceWA app, and you’ll need the tax invoice and a photo of the plant label. There are 10,000 rebates available each year, and it’s one claim per person for the life of the program, which runs to 2029.
