Greater Shepparton City Council has planted 23,500 plants this year as part of the One Tree Per Child program. The program began in 2016 and has seen a total of 80,000 trees planted across Greater Shepparton.
One Tree Per Child builds on the highly successful ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Tree Day. The program has planted over 25 million trees over the past 25 years.
One Tree Per Child will provide opportunities for every child in Greater Shepparton to see native plants grow for the benefit of the community and the environment.
Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor Seema Abdullah said “next year Council’s goal is to plant over 25,850 trees through the One Tree per Child initiative. We have a growing population, so planting a tree for every child, every year for five years will make a large difference within Greater Shepparton”.
“Council has arranged a number of planting sites across the municipality in the past 12 months and have hosted a number of community groups, business and school planting events. Sites have been prepared throughout our municipality with one of the largest plantings occurring recently in Archers Field Estate, Mooroopna with 6,000 trees planted by Council staff and contractors”.
“While Council normally organises planting events to take place as part as part of ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Tree Day, this won’t occur this year due to the current COVID-19 restrictions. Although we suggest there is still a great opportunity for families to get outside and plant trees for our children’s future, even if it’s in your backyard” said Cr Abdullah.
A majority of the species planted have been indigenous shrubs and groundcovers that have been largely cleared from our region. The aim is to restore woodland species to provide habitat for woodland birds and other native fauna.
Let’s plant a tree for every child and enjoy watching the trees grow as our children grow!