Tree planting season at Princes Park has begun

City of Melbourne councillors and contractors kicked off the 2023 tree planting season in Princes Park on March 17 with shovels in hand and a new tree in the ground.

The planting of more trees is part of the council’s Urban Forest Precinct Plans, which are the implementation guidelines that support the Urban Forest Strategy.

To increase the longevity of Melbourne’s urban forest, the council is aiming to plant 3000 trees this year to help achieve a 40 percent canopy cover by 2040.

“Our Urban Forest Strategy will see the city’s tree canopy cover reach 40 per cent by 2040,” Lord Mayor Sally Capp said.

“To do this, we will continue to plant 3000 trees each year, increase the number of green roofs and vertical greening, and encourage the greening of private land.”

There are currently 80,000 council-owned trees in Melbourne, and the council is hopeful that its latest campaign of encouraging Melburnians to think green and join in by planting will help to reach the 2040 goal. •