How much we appreciate their shade.

How we value their shape, the birds they attract, and their aesthetic appeal.

That Toronto event also sharpened our attention on the importance of the right trees in the right locations.

It’s National Tree Day on Sunday, July 30, and Lake Macquarie Landcare and Planet Ark are inviting locals to be inspired by nature and use the day to make a positive difference to their local environment.

There are several local planting events already registered for the day, including at Coal Point, Budgewoi and Warners Bay.

At Coal Point, trees will be planted to protect West Ridge Reserve.

Local volunteers have been assisting the regeneration of West Ridge Reserve for many years.

This year, Hunter Water has supported the work by undertaking weed removal on their land and permitting volunteers to plant out a buffer to prevent exotic grasses spreading back into the reserve.

The aged water tank was recently removed, and Landcarers negotiated to plant natives on the bare site instead of having exotic grasses introduced into quality bushland.

The plants and resources for this project have been provided by Hunter Water.

Coal Point Progress Association is organising the work, from 9am to midday.

The site address is 19 Whitelocke Street, at Coal Point.

At Budgewoi, the Budgewoi Beach Dunecare team is calling on volunteers to help to plant coastal wattles in the dunes to reconnect the coastal corridor.

“Do your bit and be part of the transformation - from a degraded, weed-infested, sand-mined wasteland to a balanced coastal ecosystem,” a Dunecare spokesperson said.

Volunteers are invited to meet at the south car park, at Budgewoi Beach, for work from 9am to 11am.

Children are welcome, and participants are urged to take their own gloves and hats.

Tools will be provided by the Dunecare group, who will also provide a barbecue feed for all helpers.

And at Warners Bay, Warners Bay Landcare will host a mass planting at Feighan Oval from 9am to 11am. The group has planted more than 100,000 plants in their time, and aim to add 800 more natives to their tally at this event.

Last year, almost 310,000 people took part in National Tree Day at more than 3500 sites across the country, planting more than 1.1 million native trees, shrubs and edibles and helping to green urban areas.

For more information on National Tree Day events in Lake Macquarie, contact the Landcare Resource Centre on 4921 0392 or lro@lakemac.nsw.gov.au.

To register an event, or find one near you, visit  treeday.planetark.org 

For details on regularly scheduled Landcare working bees, visit lakemacquarielandcare.org.