Boeing Reserve in Strathmore Heights will host Moonee Valley City Council’s biggest-ever community tree-planting event on Sunday 26 July.
The free event from 10am to 1pm marks National Tree Day’s 30th anniversary. Planet Ark, which started the program in 1996, says millions of volunteers have planted millions of native seedlings across the country in that time. This year, Moonee Valley is asking locals to help restore habitat and green the neighbourhood at a scale the council has never attempted before.
“National Tree Day has inspired millions of Australians to take positive environmental action over the past 30 years,” said Emma Lucey of Planet Ark. “We’re thrilled to see councils like Moonee Valley running their largest plantings to date.”
The Boeing Reserve event includes a free barbecue, plant giveaways, and family-friendly activities. Attendees are advised to arrive early. Volunteer spots at popular sites fill quickly, and the council aims to get thousands of seedlings into the ground in a single morning. Tools and planting guidance will be provided, though residents should check the council website to confirm if any equipment needs to be brought from home.
Across Melbourne, other councils are running coordinated plantings. Maribyrnong City Council will host an event at Braybrook Park, while Monash City Council targets 3000 new trees at a site next to Mulgrave Reserve. In Reservoir, Darebin Creek will see plantings that include “fish hotels” – submerged timber structures designed to give native fish a place to shelter and breed.
If the morning at Boeing Reserve leaves you wanting more, the weekend offers a chance to explore nearby Moonee Ponds Creek or stop at a cafe in Strathmore. For families, Schools Tree Day on Friday 24 July provides a hands-on preview. No registration is required for the main Sunday event, but given it is the council’s largest-ever planting, arriving at the 10am start is the best way to secure a spot and a sapling.
Public transport is recommended. Local buses serve the Boeing Road area, and Strathmore and Glenbervie stations on the Craigieburn line are the nearest train stops. Parking at the reserve may be limited.
Quick Facts
Planet Ark
Planet Ark is an Australian environmental charity founded to inspire practical environmental action. It organises National Tree Day, Australia’s largest community tree-planting event since 1996. The program engages schools, councils, and communities nationwide to plant trees and care for nature.
Moonee Valley City Council
Moonee Valley City Council is the local government authority for the Moonee Valley area in Melbourne’s inner north-west. It runs annual National Tree Day plantings and community environmental programs. The council promotes greening initiatives to enhance local biodiversity and resident wellbeing.