You may have noticed Council has been busy planting trees across a number of locations throughout our townships. These plantings form part of Council's Urban Forest Strategy, which aims to create greener, healthier and more resilient communities.

These trees are an investment in our future. As they grow and thrive, they help cool our streets, reduce temperatures on hot summer days, lower energy use, improve physical and mental wellbeing, and support local biodiversity.

To help establish these young trees, Council's Open Space team manages a watering program for more than 2,500 street trees planted over the past two years.

With warmer weather approaching, our team works hard to keep up with watering demand. However, we would welcome your help to give these trees the best possible start. If there is a young street tree near your property, here are some simple ways you can help.

Do:

• Water young trees during hot and dry weather, a regular bucket of water will do the trick
• Help protect the trunk from damage caused by mowers and brush cutters
• Remove weeds around the base of the tree to reduce competition for water and nutrients

Don't:

• Pile grass clippings or mulch against the trunk, as this can cause disease and affect the tree's health
• Tie the tree with wire, rope or similar materials, as this can damage the trunk
• Prune or cut the tree

By working together, we can help establish a healthy, thriving urban forest that will provide benefits for generations to come.

Thank you for helping care for our community's trees.