From 11th April to 10th May, Serpentine Jarrahdale will participate in the WA Tree Festival.
A WALGA initiative, the Tree Festival is sponsored by the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and is described as: “a community celebration of trees in the state’s urban areas and beyond.”
Some 25 local councils in total will partake in the festival, which will highlight the vital role trees play in creating greener, healthier and cooler living spaces.
The event has been described as: “A timely reminder given Perth’s tree canopy cover sat at just over 20 per cent in 2024 according to revised measurements and the state government has since set a target of reaching 30 per cent by 2040.
“Councils across the metro area are increasingly treating tree planting as a practical climate response, not just a nice-to-have.”
For the festival, the Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire will be teaming up with Landcare SJ and several local community groups to host a number of events over the course of the month-long period.
Among these events are three nest box building workshops, where Landcare SJ will take attendees through the process of building small houses for possums and bats in the Jarrahdale area, many of whom are left vulnerable by nearby clearing projects.
A couple of walks will be conducted as well, hosted by both Landcare SJ and the Jarrahdale Heritage Society. These will be focused on showcasing the area’s unique flora and fauna, as well as local planting projects.
SJ children will not be left out, as there will be a session of Craft and Storytime Under the Trees, where they will be entertained and enjoy hands-on activities.
Two information sessions will also be conducted on fighting dieback, a major, devastating, introduced plant pathogen that has ravaged WA ecosystems for years. In Serpentine Jarrahdale, it has particularly harmed Jarrah, and thus, this tree species will be the focus of the sessions.
There will be a vote on the most-loved tree species in the area, given SJ’s status as an acknowledged biodiversity hotspot. Candidates will include Jarrah, Marri, Western Sheoak,Nature Salmon White Gum and even the terrifically named Snottygobble.
Additionally, there will be a competition to find SJ’s widest and oldest tree. As the formula for calculating tree age is based on trunk circumference, a Jarrah or Marri tree will definitely be selected. Instructions for measuring the circumference, and hence the age, will be released once the festival has begun. The winner of this event will receive an Australian Native Nursery $15 voucher.
