• Charles Sturt to host tree planting event in Wagga Wagga on Saturday 6 August

Charles Sturt University is fostering its commitment to engaging with regional communities to tackle sustainability challenges by hosting a tree planting event in Wagga Wagga.

To coincide with National Landcare Week, Charles Sturt is inviting members of the public to join staff and students on Saturday 6 August to add to the 25,000 native seedlings already planted by the University in the past 10 years.

Research by Charles Sturt has demonstrated that vegetation diversity in areas such as tree corridors and road reserves can provide agricultural benefits by stimulating beneficial insects that predate pest species.

Manager of Sustainability at Charles Sturt Mr Edward Maher said the University has a long-standing commitment to allocating 20 per cent of its land to biodiversity enhancement.

“Building on our efforts over the last 10 years, we aim to use the Charles Sturt campus and farm to help connect native vegetation at a local landscape scale, resulting in improving habitat, food sources and movement through the landscape for native species, such as squirrel gliders, superb parrots and diamond firetails,” he said.

“Other recognised benefits of tree corridors incorporated in agricultural systems, include stock shelter, reducing wind damage, curtaining soil erosion and improving property value via visual aesthetics.”

Volunteers are invited to attend this event on Saturday 6 August from 9.30am until 12.30pm at the Charles Sturt University Farm, Becks Lane (off Old Narrandera Road).

Attendees are encouraged to wear warm clothes and a hat and bring a water bottle, gloves, and trowel, if possible.

Registration is preferred by Wednesday 3 August and should be sent to sustainability@csu.edu.au.

This event might be cancelled in the event of heavy rainfall during the week. If so, registered participants will be notified.