National Tree Day – 29th July

As Australia’s largest community tree-planting and nature day approaches, Pet Insurance Australia is urging all Aussies to get out and about and do something positive for their local environment.

“It’s no secret that all dogs and cats love trees and getting out and about in nature,” Nadia Crighton from Pet Insurance Australia says. “This is a great excuse to get out amongst nature while helping our local environment.”

National Tree Day was created back in 1996 by Planet Ark and has encouraged over four million people to plant approximately 24 million trees.

“This has a huge knock-on effect in our parks and communities,” Crighton says. “PIA is encouraging all pet owners to get involved and contribute to such a wonderful day.”

For a dog, the humble tree down is like a good newspaper. It can tell all the facts about what is going on in the dog park, who has visited, who has grown. They contain a million smells and scents that dogs simply love. They are also paramount in providing shade on summer days and for some dogs – provide a bit of fibre when they chew on bark!

“One thing is for certain, pet owners, particularly dog owners, spend lots of time out and about in nature,” she says. “It’s so important that we all take care of the parks and areas we like to use, so future generations and their pets, can also take pleasure in these wonderful places.”

Nature and trees also have a hugely positive impact on people with many studies showing that spending time in nature can help a range of conditions including depression and inflammation.

According to one study, spending time in nature is also beneficial for short term memory, stress reduction and mental energy. Research out of Japan also suggests that forest walking can have positive impacts in regard to anti-cancer proteins and helps the production of cancer-fighting white blood cells. Forrest bathing or shinrin-yoku is considered a standard preventative healthcare practice in Japan.

“Research indicates that walking amongst nature is simply good for us,” Crighton says. “It’s time to get out and about, shut the devices off, and take care of these wonderful outdoor spaces that are available to all of us.”

Getting Involved

• Find a local planting even near you and get planting!
• Plan a special day out at your favourite park.
• Look after your local areas and report any problems to the council.
• Pick up a bag of rubbish every time you walk your dog.
• Plant a tree!
• Plant a native bush.

Nadia Crighton

Nadia Crighton is a renowned and accomplished professional in the fields of Journalism, Public Relations, and Writing, with an extensive career spanning over 25 years, 20 of which have been dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of pets.

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