WEPA members share favourites for Willoughby Tree Festival
The nature loving WEPA community is encouraging better appreciation of our local trees, by sharing their favourites for Willoughby’s Canopy of Life Tree Festival.
Kristina couldn’t choose between her Sydney peppermint, which is a regular nesting spot for a falcon family, and a Heath-leaved banksia bursting with colour and life-sustaining nectar for local birds and insects.
Gay‘s favourite is the Grey myrtle that she planted with her husband Harold over 25 years ago. It sustains possums and insects, provides a safe roosting spot for brush turkeys and has witnessed love bloom for a pair of local lyrebirds.
Jocelyn treasures Castlecrag’s landmark Port Jackson fig. It’s an avian apartment block providing habitat for currawongs, wattle birds and more. Flying-foxes, a protected species critical to forest health and pollination, enjoy feasting on it’s golden-red figs during the bi-annual fruiting season.
Kate’s Sydney red gum and Christmas bush have been flourishing for over 40 years, supporting life for smaller plants and a myriad of Artarmon’s birds, mammals, reptiles and insects.
You can read about these local favourites and more at Resident Tree Stories on the Willoughby Council website.
Through these stories it is evident that many residents appreciate the practical benefits of privacy, cooling shade and noise reduction that trees provide. However, watching local wildlife interact and thrive also brings immeasurable joy to our tree heroes. WEPA celebrates their efforts to spread the message that trees are the cornerstone of a healthy environment for both the humans and wildlife of Willoughby.
The Canopy of Life Festival is a Willoughby Council initiative to increase appreciation for the many benefits of a healthy tree canopy. We hope that it is a successful step towards eliminating illegal tree vandalism, as well as reducing unnecessary legal tree removals.
The Festival starts Wednesday June 29, for 3 weeks of live and online events – from forest bathing and crafting talismans in our magical reserves, to discovery walks for the kids and a range of informative webinars and workshops, including the importance of fungi and how to help your fruit trees thrive.
You can read more about the Festival events and sign up here.
Biodiversity starts in our own backyards, so we encourage all members to get involved, spread the word and show our trees the care they deserve.
