Canopy Cover at Adelaide Cemeteries
In partnership with Trees For Life, we are planting more than 5,000 trees, shrubs and ground covers across our sites, as well as offering training in weed management and best practices for flora management.
What is Canopy Cover?
Tree canopy is a form of green infrastructure providing shade, which reduces ambient temperatures and mitigates the heat island effect. The urban heat island effect is where large amounts of hard and dark-coloured surfaces like roads and roofs cause localised warming.
The urban tree canopy also has environmental benefits. It provides habitat, helps protect the health of waterways and removes fine particles from the air to improve air quality. Recent research shows that urban tree canopy is also greatly valued by communities.
Trees also capture and slow rainfall and their roots filter water and recharge the aquifer. Trees reduce storm water runoff, which reduces flooding, and impact on maintenance across our sites.
Why is Canopy Cover Important?
- A 10% increase in canopy cover can reduce land surface temperatures by 1.13 degrees Celsius.1
- A 10% increase in canopy cover can increase the value of properties in a street by an average of $50,000.1
- The evaporation from a single tree can produce the cooling effect of ten room-size, residential air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.2
- Trees provide important habitats for numerous bird, insect and animal species.
- Trees absorb and block sound, reducing noise pollution by as much as 40 percent.3
We’re taking steps to Increase Canopy Cover
In partnership with Trees For Life, we are planting more than 5,000 trees, shrubs and ground covers across our sites, as well as offering training in weed management and best practices for flora management.
We are also adding trees where possible within new developments, as well as existing areas such as the newly available Section M at Cheltenham Cemetery. The Multi-Function Community Precinct at Enfield Memorial Park will also have more than 50 additional Trees and 1400 additional plants within the area with planting to start in the coming months.
Check out the increase in canopy cover and soft surfaces (such as lawn/plants) across our sites using the satellite images below.
Smithfield Memorial Park
Enfield Memorial Park
West Terrace Cemetery
Cheltenham Cemetery
