It is critically endangered, but locals are hoping to preserve it into the future.

More than 40 volunteers played their part in a community planting day last weekend.

This followed staff from the Office of Environment and Heritage and National Parks and Wildlife Service’s recent planting of 200, reaching 400 in total over the course of the two plantings.

Office of Environment and Heritage senior project officer Paul Hillier said there were only 1000 known North Rothbury Persoonia in the wild and a planting of 400 was a significant contribution to the species’ preservation.

“As the species recovers, it will become a valuable food source for native bees, grazing animals and fruit eating birds,” he said.

“The program of supplementing the wild population with translocated stock began in 2015, with some experimental planting and as a result, the population has been increased by 400.

“Part of the NSW Government’s Saving our Species initiative, which aims to secure populations of threatened species in the wild, the North Rothbury Persoonia population has now increased by almost 60 per cent.

“A key component of this success is the community really taking up the planting challenge.

“Echoing past years, 42 volunteers came along on Saturday, ensuring the job was done in no time and the volunteers were rewarded with their own Persoonia plants to take home.”

The volunteers were assisted by staff from National Parks and Wildlife Service, Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan and Office of Environment and Heritage and representatives from Mindaribba Local Aboriginal Land Council, who also gave a talk on the cultural significance of the site.