The grounds of Westmead Hospital are set to become an urban woodland thanks to a partnership between the NSW Government, Greater Sydney Landcare Network and Landcare NSW. Western Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive, Mr Graeme Loy joined Landcare NSW CEO, Dr Adrian Zammit and a team of volunteers to begin planting 3,110 trees for habitat and healing at the hospital site on Wednesday 7 April. Western Sydney Local Health District Chief Executive Mr Graeme Loy said the new greenery will be a huge benefit to hospital staff and patients, wildlife and the wider community. “Green spaces aren’t just great for urban ecosystems, they’re also associated with better physical health, lower stress levels, and greater community satisfaction. These trees will create a beautiful environment for patients, visitors and our local community to relax and enjoy,” Mr Loy said. The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s Executive Director Green and Resilient Place, Mr Steve Hartley said the initiative was part of the NSW Government’s commitment to plant one million trees across Greater Sydney. “Access to green spaces has important health benefits for the community and play a big role in supporting mental and physical health and we are committed to ensuring everyone across Greater Sydney can experience these benefits,” Mr Hartley said. Landcare NSW CEO, Dr Adrian Zammit said the organisation was proud to partner with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment in Greening our City. “Landcare NSW works to improve the health of our environment and communities. By expanding the green canopy cover across Greater Sydney, we are not only contributing to our community’s health and well-being but also the protection of our native plants and animals by providing much needed habitat. “The site’s proximity to Toongabbie Creek will help extend important habitat for small birds, microbats, and other native animals,” Dr Zammit said. “We encourage the local community to get involved in this project. Through Landcare you can join a community, learn new skills, plant trees for wildlife and people, be out in nature and make a positive contribution to our environment.” Member for Parramatta The Hon. Dr Geoff Lee, MP welcomed the initiative. “It is great to see these trees being planted to provide shade during those extremely hot Parramatta summers and help make a real difference to the environment for the staff and patients at Westmead Hospital,” Dr Lee said. The plantings in the Westmead Hospital grounds have been coordinated by Greater Sydney Landcare Network (GSLN) in conjunction with local Landcare and community groups to improve resilience on site and in the community. GSLN is working with The Social Canvas and the Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation to deliver an innovative planting on the Westmead Hospital site. The Social Canvas, a creative social enterprise, helped deliver the planning and tree selection. 30 Tzu Chi volunteers will join with GSLN at Westmead Hospital to grow trees, shade and habitat to support the project. The trees will be planted as part of the Greening Our City program, to increase the tree canopy and green cover across Greater Sydney. Funding has been provided to Greater Sydney Landcare Network and Landcare NSW as part of the NSW Government’s $2.1 million investment and partnership with Landcare to plant 100,000 new trees across Greater Sydney.
