Branch Out 2026

The City of Armadale’s Urban Forest Strategy invites residents to help green our community by planting trees in your backyard and private spaces through the Branch Out - tree giveaway. Greening the City requires a collaborative effort between the public and landowners, with community support being essential for its success. Living in green suburbs offers direct health benefits that are enjoyed by everyone in the community. We encourage local homeowners to plant trees within their private space to increase the city’s canopy cover.

Help green our community by planting trees in your backyard and private spaces through Branch Out, a WA Tree Festival initiative.

Living in green suburbs, getting out in natural settings or built green spaces directly effects human health and in particular mental health. Full emersion such as a walk in nature, or even simply being able to see trees and green spaces from the office window is proven to have positive effects.

• Reduced feelings of anxiety, depression and anger

• Lowers the concentration of the stress hormone 'Cortisol' in the body

• Improves the ability to deal with stressful situations and promotes relaxation

• Social Connection - Time spent in green spaces provides opportunity for social interaction, a vital component of mental health

• Restorative Properties - nature including trees is known to help individuals recover from mental fatigue

• Cognitive Function - Exposure to nature can improve attention span and memory recall, important for both our younger and older residents.

"Achieving at least a 30% urban greening target in local communities could lower the odds of psychological distress by up to 31%, loneliness by 24%, and dementia by 16%, as well as reducing the odds of developing diabetes, heart disease and hypertension."

- Prof Thomas Astell-Burt from University of Wollongong, and Associate Prof Xiaoqi Feng from UNSW

How can you help?

Growing vegetation in our urban areas is crucial for the future of human health and is a collective responsibility. We must reduce artificial surfaces and support the planting and care of trees and understory vegetation whenever possible. Every little bit counts, this year the City is focusing on heavily urbanised areas that are most in need of greening, applications from the following areas will be prioritised as they have the lowest rates of vegetation:

Armadale, Brookdale, Camillo, Champion Lakes, Doobarda, Forrestdale, Harrisdale, Haynes, Hilbert, Kelmscott, Piara Waters & Seville Grove.

Complete the survey below to claim your free tree; and we’ll deliver the tree to your house. (Please note, one tree per household). Participants are asked to select their top three preferred species; trees will be allocated based on suitability and availability.

Species available to choose from are:

• Acacia saligna, Golden Wreath Wattle
• Banksia attenuata 'Dwarf', Dwarf Candlestick Banksia
• Banksia menziesii, Firewood Banksia
• Banksia prionotes, Acorn or Orange Banksia
• Callistemon viminalis 'Prolific', Weeping Bottlebrush
• Eucalyptus pressiana, Bell Fruited Mallee
• Eucalyptus torquata (Coral Gum)
• Hakea laurina, Pincushion Hakea
• Hakea petiolaris, Sea Urchin Hakea

For more detailed species information see the Species List and Planting Guide in the attached documents.

Please note: Trees must not be planted within the verge space. If you would like to request a street tree for the verge, please find a Street Tree Request form here or in the attached documents.

When will I receive the tree?

Delivery of trees will begin in May 2026 and continue through to end of July 2026 or until all stock delivered. We regretfully cannot provide an exact delivery date; if no one is home, the tree will be placed in the safest possible location and the planting guide put in your letterbox.

The 2026 WA Tree Festival is sponsored by the Government of Western Australia, with the support of WALGA and Perth NRM