Our Environmental Services Team have taken part in the Conservation Volunteers Tree Planting Challenge to celebrate World Environment Day - with eight team members from New South Wales and ten from Victoria competing to plant the most trees over two hours.

Ventia General Manager Utility Services Nan-Maree Schoerie supported the event, donning her gardening gloves alongside the team from Victoria.

It was so uplifting to contribute to the conservation of a local reserve, and it was a tangible way to show our support for World Environment Day, said Nan-Maree.

"As a team we're often involved in the remediation of land, we understand how important vegetated landscape is for healthy waterways, and for preserving these areas for future generations.

"Our experience really echoed the World Environment Day 2017 theme, 'Connecting People to Nature,' in a simple, and fun way. And, it's great to see so many other businesses out there getting involved too."

Conservation Volunteers identified key planting sites across Australia and New Zealand for their regeneration importance.

In Sydney, the team travelled to Olympic Park, where over 300 hectares of diverse habitats support over 400 native plant species, three endangered ecological communities and over 200 native animals.

In Melbourne, the team visited W. James Whyte Reserve where former agricultural land is being transformed into a conservation reserve.

Congratulations to both teams! In Sydney, the team planted a total 635 native grass tube stocks, while in Melbourne, faced with a slightly rockier landscape, the team planted an impressive 240 native plants.

A big thank you to our 18 team members who showed their support for the Conservation Volunteers Tree Planting Challenge.