News Monday, 27 July 2026

The greening of Parramatta: 10,000 native seedlings planted

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Updated 27 Jul 2026

Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter leasds the planting.

HUNDREDS of volunteers came together in Dundas to plant 10,000 native seedlings, giving Upjohn Park Rydalmere a major boost at this year’s National Tree Day.

This free community event reflects Council’s long-standing commitment to the initiative, which has grown over the decades to become one of the largest National Tree Day events in the country.

Volunteers took part planting a mix of trees, shrubs and groundcovers to support the restoration of the critically endangered Sydney Turpentine–Ironbark Forest ecosystem.

City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter said the event was a powerful way for the community to connect with nature and help reinstate native bushland.

“National Tree Day is a great opportunity for our community to come together, get outdoors and make a real difference to our local environment,” Cr Zaiter said.

“By planting 10,000 native seedlings, we’re not only improving biodiversity but helping build a more resilient and sustainable City for future generations.”

The plants used on the day were grown locally at Council’s Ermington nursery using seeds collected from across the Parramatta area, ensuring they are well suited to local conditions.

Extensive site preparation works - including weed removal, mulching and rubbish clearing - had been underway since mid‑2025 to support strong plant growth, contributing to a survival rate of more than 95 per cent in recent years.

The event also highlighted the circular economy in action, with 620kgs of soil conditioner made from compost created through the FOGO (food and garden organics) service given away to participants, showing how residents’ green waste is transformed into a valuable resource for the community.

“Healthy ecosystems play an important role in our City. They help provide homes for our local wildlife and we’ve responded to strong community demand by continuing to invest in the restoration of our bushland,” Cr Zaiter said.

“Our plantings on National Tree Day are just one part of our program of making our City greener. Council also recently completed a tree planting program, adding more than 800 street trees across the City to improve our tree canopy with trees grown in our own nursery,” Cr Zaiter said.

Following the event, the site will be maintained and cared for through Council’s Bush Regeneration program to ensure long-term survival.