Planting a tree is often a child’s first act of volunteering for the benefit of our entire community. It can empower children to realise that they can make a personal difference for our community and our local environment.
One Tree Per Child was founded by Olivia Newton-John and Jon Dee and builds on the highly successful National Tree Day. The program aims to plant 20 million trees for 20 million children by 2020 worldwide.
One Tree per Child will provide opportunities for every child in Greater Shepparton to plant a native plant for the benefit of the community and the environment.
There are 16,664 people aged under 18 children in the City of Greater Shepparton so Council has committed to facilitate a native plant to be planted for each child, every year for five years (2017-2021).
Greater Shepparton City Council are partnering with as many schools, kindergartens, childcare centres, Landcare groups, local businesses and community groups help to achieve these goals.
Council has arranged for ten planting sites across the municipality to host community group, business and school planting events. Sites have been prepared in Shepparton, Mooroopna, Tatura, Dookie, Kialla Lakes, Seven Creeks and Arcadia.
Nine community planting events have been arranged across the municipality as part of the project. Four events are taking place as part of the “Nurture Nature” school holiday activity program. Five Sunday planting events have been scheduled from 16 July at Kialla Lakes to 13 August at Seven Creeks.
Although the project is called One Tree Per Child, the majority of the species planted will be 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.
Tassicker Reserve has been a community planting location for the last few years so attendees at the launch will be able to see firsthand what has can be achieved.
Attendees of the launch are encouraged to wear study shoes, gardening gloves and appropriate clothing so they can plant an indigenous shrub or two after the speeches.
It is anticipated that plantings will continue to occur until the end of August. Local schools, childcare centers, LandCare groups, local businesses and community groups can still contact Council to get involved in the 2017 planting season or to share ideas on partnership opportunities in future years to make Greater Shepparton a cleaner, greener community.
Let’s plant a tree for every child and enjoy watching the trees grow as our children grow!
Please contact Council on 5832 9700 to discuss this exciting project further or check out the Council website at greatershepparton.com.au for more information.
