Trees are an invaluable resource in every community, but especially here in Burnside. Burnside is known for our beautiful, leafy streetscapes. However, that is not the only use trees have. Trees provide many benefits to the community; they provide cool coverage in the summer, they protect our roads and riverbanks from stormwater erosion, they provide food and shelter to our wildlife… basically, we would be nothing without our trees.
Which is why I would love to introduce a tree adoption program in our council. The Cities of Unley and Marion have already introduced similar programs in their councils to great success. An Adopt a Tree program is a great way to involve our residents in contributing to our streetscape as well as increasing public awareness around the importance of caring for our environment.
We can draw inspiration from the Unley and Marion programs. For example, Marion provides those who register to adopt a tree with a free bucket as well as a detailed information pamphlet on how to care for their tree. Unley provides a small plaque under the adopted trees indicating that they’ve been adopted by residents as well as adding additional signs to street posts indicating which street adopted the most trees in a year. All of these are aspects that we can apply in Burnside.
So what would a tree adoption program look like in Burnside? Well, residents would be able to register to be ‘tree parents,’ and the council would plant a tree on the verge outside their house. The Council would also install a plaque on each adopted tree so that pedestrians can clearly see which trees are under the care of residents. The Council will also provide participating residents with a bucket (complete with a Burnside logo, of course) that they can fill up to water their tree as well as a detailed care pamphlet instructing them on how to look after their trees. We can include awards for the streets/neighbourhoods that have the most trees adopted in a year, as well as adapt the program for schools who can participate as part of their holiday programs. The Council will still fertilise and prune trees themselves, but by giving residents the opportunity to care for the trees in their own way, we can increase awareness and care about the importance of looking after the environment we live in.
The Adopt a Tree program will provide limitless value to the Burnside community. A 2019 report from Unley compared two streets on the same block; one was lined with trees, the other wasn’t. The one with more trees was up to 10°C cooler than the one without. The Eastern suburbs are only going to get hotter in the summer in our current environment and the number for 40°C+ days are expected to double by 2050. By increasing the number of trees planted and the overall canopy, the surface temperature of the street can be reduced dramatically, making the weather slightly more bearable for residents. The trees can also extend coverage to the surrounding houses, thus reducing their energy costs.
Tree adoption can also increase the biodiversity of the area. More tree adoption increases the number of trees available for native wildlife, like possums and birds, to live in. By increasing the available habitats for wildlife, we can encourage our natural wildlife to return to the suburbs of Burnside and allow them to live alongside residents. This increases the livability and appeal of the Burnside area as well as opening the door for more conservation projects in the future.
Tree adoption also allows the residents to learn more about how they can be more environmentally friendly in their lifestyles. Not only can we tie this proposal in with our efforts to reduce our reliance on general waste in favour of recyclable materials, but we can also use this as an opportunity to increase awareness about water usage. By adopting a tree, residents can recycle non-potable water (e.g: water used in the bath, kitchen sink, shower, and laundry water) and use it to water their tree. This reduces water wastage as well as allows residents to learn about water conservation.
An Adopt a Tree program provides an exciting opportunity for increasing the livability and sustainability of the Burnside area. The program can provide a great gateway for more council programs promoting sustainability as well as be an excellent way to increase resident participation in caring for their community.
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