The City’s urban forest is an essential asset in our community that provides cooling and shade, supports biodiversity, and contributes to mental and physical wellbeing. Protecting, maintaining and, ultimately, growing the City’s urban forest is an important goal for the City.
To address the urban canopy decline, the City’s Urban Forest Plan (2022) provides the vision for protecting and establishing the City’s urban forest through a series of strategies and actions.
Enhancing engagement is an integral objective of the Urban Forest Plan and so one of the Plan’s actions is to “continually investigate and communicate innovative methods and technologies that assist and enhance community perceptions about the value of trees in the urban environment.”
We will be running a range of activities of various topics throughout April and May as part of the Branching Out in Ballajura program. These activities are designed to encourage positive perceptions regarding the value of trees and to encourage the retention and planting of more trees throughout our community.
Participation prize
All City of Swan residents and ratepayers who attend four or more workshops and complete the pre and post program surveys, go into the draw to win a one-hour garden consultation with Neville Passmore. The winner will be drawn following the completion of the survey period (June 2025).
Attend the workshops
Tuesday 29 April 2025 06:00 pm to 08:00 pm
Growing in Perth
Ballajura Community Centre
Saturday 3 May 2025 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
An introduction to sustainable garden design
Ballajura Community Centre
City of Swan - Branching Out: An introduction to sustainable garden design
Tuesday 6 May 2025 06:00 pm to 08:00 pm
Healthy soils and gardens
Ballajura Community Centre
Complete the survey
Frequently asked questions
Comprises of trees and other vegetation within urban areas.
This encompasses vegetation within any streetscape, river and creek embankment, bushland, wetland, park and transport corridor.
It also includes trees and vegetation within private properties such as backyards, verges, rooftops and vertical gardens.
Vegetation greater than three metres that provide permanent reliable shade and recognised flora communities.
The City’s approval is required for all tree plantings on City land including verges.
The City’s Tree Guidelines explain the tree species that are acceptable.
Native tree species that reflect the local character and conditions of the area are preferred. Please contact the City to seek approval.
Trees provide many environmental, economic and social benefits.
Urban forestry best practice among local governments across Australia, independent research and the State Government document Urban Forest of Perth and Peel (WAPC, 2014) all identify the numerous benefits trees have in urban areas.
| Environmental | Economic | Social |
|---|---|---|
| Improving air quality | Reduce energy demand and cost | Encourage outdoor activity |
| Reducing stormwater flows and nutrient loads | Increased property values | Enhanced sense of place and identity |
| Provision of habitat and forage for biodiversity | Avoid costs of infrastructure damage and renewal | Improved community cohesion |
| Greenhouse gas emission absorption | Decreasing health costs | Reduced heat-related illness |
| Greater adaptability to changes in climate | Marketing the City and boosting local business | Improved mental wellbeing |
The verge is the area between the edge of the road and the private property boundary.
Verges are owned by the State Government and management is vested to the City.
Verges provide a buffer between the road and private property where essential services and public infrastructure may be located.
Yes. Every resident of the City of Swan is eligible to request a free street tree for their verge once a year. To make a request, head over to the City’s Free Street Trees page.
The City’s approval is required for all tree plantings on City land including verges.
The City’s Tree Guidelines stipulate the tree species that are acceptable within the City of Swan. Local native tree species that reflect the local character and conditions of the area are preferred. Please contact the City if you are wishing to plant any tree not listed in the Tree Guidelines.
If you wish to plant a tree on your verge please contact the City to discuss your species preference and seek approval. Unauthorised planting on City land may result in the removal or relocation of the planting at the resident’s cost.
Planting under power lines requires careful species selection. For the safety of the community, there are requirements to be followed when planting trees on the verge.
Please refer to the City’s Tree Guidelines for information regarding setbacks and plant height restrictions.
Perth NRM have developed a web resource called ReWild Perth to help people plan, create and record native gardens specifically tailored to their outdoor spaces.
By inputting your suburb and size of your garden size, the web resource provides you with different actions on how you can contribute to the urban forest.
The verge width varies from property to property. The City’s online mapping tool can assist residents in locating their private property boundaries.
What to do next
You can get involved outside of the workshops
