The sun was shining as volunteers helped plant more than 8000 native trees and shrubs across four sites in Greater Bendigo. 

Sunday was National Tree Day, and the council had high hopes for a strong show of community support. 

Planting sites were established at the Long Gully Reserve, in Long Gully; at Ironbark Gully, in North Bendigo; at the Huntly Streamside Reserve, in Huntly; and along the O’Keefe Rail Trail in Junortoun. 

“We are very pleased to see these additional sites this year and thank the Friends of Ironbark Gully, Longlea and District and Northern Bendigo Landcare Groups, Friends of Bendigo Kilmore Rail Trail and the Junortoun Action Group for their efforts,” Bendigo mayor Margaret O’Rourke said.

More than 76,000 native trees, shrubs and groundcover plants have been planted in Greater Bendigo since National Tree Day’s inception in 1996.

“Be inspired – it’s in our nature” was the theme of this year’s event.