Wagga Wagga City Council’s One Tree for Me initiative returns for the fourth time in 2024 with more than 35,000 seedlings planted across its first three years. Photo: Wagga Wagga City Council.
Wagga Wagga City Council will be looking to give out more than 6000 seedlings over the next three months as the One Tree for Me program returns for its fourth year.
The One Tree for Me initiative aims to have 65,000 native seedlings planted in the Wagga Wagga local government area by 2027. Launched in 2021, the campaign has already seen more than 35,000 seedlings planted.
This year, it will look to build on its strong start, with several seedling giveaways scheduled.
“We’ll be giving away another 6000 seedlings to the community over the months of July, August and September because this is the best time to get your seedlings in the ground,” council environmental education officer Christina Reid said.
“We choose different locations for the giveaways each time to try to spread them around and to provide everyone with access.
“All you have to do is turn up within the allotted time and we will give you a bag containing a small number of seedlings that are native to the local area and suited to the local climate.
“It’s all part of our initiative to encourage people to grow the right sort of plants to support native wildlife, such as small birds and other important pollinators present in urban backyards – so we give away lots of smaller flowering plants, shrubs and ground covers.”
One Tree for Me is part of the council’s Biodiversity Strategy: Maldhangilanha 2020-2030, which sets the administration’s path to protecting and enhancing biodiversity in the area.
In addition to the seedling giveaway, the council holds community tree-planting activities on community land and supports programs such as the Schools National Tree Day campaign and National Tree Day.
Ms Reid said she was grateful to the local community for its enthusiastic support for the One Tree for Me initiative, which not only provides free seedlings but also promotes information about locally native plant species.
“We are exactly halfway through the campaign, with three years of giveaways behind us and three more years to go,” she said.
“So far, 35,578 seedlings have been planted as a result of the campaign, so we are well on track to meet our target!”
The first giveaway was held at the Riverina Marine Centre on Saturday (13 July), with two more set to be announced within the coming weeks.
To learn more about the Biodiversity Strategy: Maldhangilanha 2020-2030 and the One Tree for Me program, visit Wagga Wagga City Council.
Loading ...
