Garden inspiration: Urban greening

Have you seen Wollongong City Council's draft Urban Greening Strategy released at the end of last month? It is full of inspiration!

The strategy is out for consultation over the next couple of weeks, so if you live in the Wollongong local government area, it's your chance to have a say about urban greening in general and any specific topics under that heading that interest you. Have a look here; and comment if you have the inclination. 

These are just a few interesting facts from the Strategy: 

- Higher levels of urban canopy are associated with better health, cooler and more attractive streetscapes, higher amenity, and even higher property values. 

- Total urban canopy (tree cover) in Wollongong is 17%, less than half the Australian national average of 39%.

- While some suburbs (such as Coledale and Mount Pleasant) score well over 39% canopy cover, others are well under, with the new suburb of Hayward's Bay lagging badly at only 3% canopy cover. 

- There are 46,000 parcels of land (i.e. lots) in the local government area that have no trees on the adjacent verge. I can't tell you how many lots there are in total, but 46,000 is a large number to have no street tree!

- And last but not least, three quarters of the land in the Wollongong LGA is privately owned, so if we are going to increase urban canopy cover, adding more trees on privately owned land is essential!

All this says to me, and I hope to you too:

-  Plant more trees in your garden; 

- Plant a tree on your verge (or ask Council to plant one); and

- Give council some feedback on their draft strategy!!!

Here are just a few inspiring images of urban trees around Wollongong. 

Bonewood (Emmenosperma alphitonioides) is a neat, symmetrical tree with beautiful creamy flowers and orange fruit, great as a street tree or specimen tree in the garden. Image by Emma Rooksby.

This is Swamp Mahogany (Eucalpytus robusta) growing happily in a street in
Mount Pleasant. So much shade for the cars parked underneath! Image by Mithra Cox, reproduced under CC BY-NC 2.0.

And here is Bolwarra (Eupomatia laurina) used as a screening hedge between houses. Urban greening - with a bonus of privacy from the neighbours! Image by Leon Fuller. 

I look forward to reading all the community feedback on Wollongong City Council's urban greening strategy. And seeing what trees pop up in gardens and verges as a result!!