It might be a few years before it comes into effect, but Victoria University’s Werribee campus will be much greener thanks to a Community Tree Planting Day event held there on Friday August 4.
5000 saplings were planted by more than 200 volunteers at the Hoppers Lane campus during the annual event, which forms part of the state government’s More Trees for a Cooler Greener West initiative.
The western suburbs have metropolitan Melbourne’s smallest tree canopy, with just 5.5 per cent covered.
With the new saplings going in next to 5,100 planted last year, VU’s Werribee campus is at the forefront of efforts to increase tree cover in the west and reduce urban temperatures, filter pollution and boost biodiversity in the process.
VU Vice-Chancellor Professor Adam Shoemaker said the tree planting day was an investment in the future.
“This will make a huge difference to future generations – many of whom were there on the day.”
The types of trees planted ranged from shrubs like the River Bottlebrush, mid-story trees such as Lightswoods and Sheoaks, through to large River Gums and Blackwoods.
More than 250,000 trees have been planted in the western suburbs since the program began 2021.
