Volunteers Rebuild Green Oasis After Fire

A fire recently swept through a section of the Bushwalk corridor along Buckingham Canal in Egattur, leaving behind burnt soil and damaged irrigation pipes. This green space, painstakingly developed by residents of House of Hiranandani Upscale, is now the focus of restoration efforts.

A public event is planned for June 5, marking World Environment Day, to draw attention to the corridor's resilience. Open to all, the event will feature volunteers discussing the native plant species, such as Indian tulip and neem, and the broader goals of the urban forest initiative. Participants will also be able to view the damaged area and learn about the restoration plans.

The corridor, which now hosts 12,000 plants, was born out of a resident-driven initiative during the pandemic. Volunteers pooled resources, manually watered saplings, and established a sustainable drip irrigation system. The Bushwalk Trust was later formed to manage the growing initiative and secure funding, transforming the space into a hub for guided bushwalks and birding, having documented 176 bird species.