Watch them grow: volunteers plant native seedlings
Published: 05 Aug 2022 11:27am
Thank you to everyone who took part in Schools Tree Day and National Tree Day, with more than 4800 native seedlings planted in Wagga Wagga last week.
Council is continuing to work towards the 'One Tree for Me' campaign aim of getting 65,000 seedlings planted in our local area over the next six years – one seedling for every resident.
The goal is getting closer, with Council donating 8800 native seedlings so far this year: 4000 seedlings for One Tree for Me seedling giveaways; 3500 seedlings for Schools Tree Day; and 1300 seedlings for National Tree Day.
Environmental Education Officer Christina Reid said Council’s Environment team was touched by the generosity shown by the Schools Tree Day and National Tree Day volunteers.
“All the volunteers were so enthusiastic and happy to be outside planting,” Ms Reid said.
“You could feel the positive energy radiating out across Flowerdale Lagoon where we were planting for National Tree Day last Sunday.
“A few of the volunteers mentioned that it was a great site, right next to the highway, and they were looking forward to driving past and seeing how it’s progressing.”
Council’s Environment team carefully selected a wide variety of native seedlings for both Schools Tree Day and National Tree Day which will benefit our region’s biodiversity.
“Generally, the bigger trees are for bigger birds, and the lower storey trees, such as banksia, wattle and bottlebrush, are for smaller birds like honeyeaters, finches and blue wrens,” Ms Reid said.
“We planted a lot of grasses as well, as their seeds will help feed those little birds.”
Council also included seedlings which will help attract local pollinators.
“We planted silver banksia, which is Wagga Wagga’s floral emblem,” Ms Reid said.
“The silver banksia, in addition to the wattle, will help attract and feed microbats.
“Hopefully we’ll see all the pollinators popping up in there including microbats and lots of insects like bees and wasps. We hope lizards will also find a home amongst the grasses and trees, and feed on the insects and critters we have attracted – it’ll be a whole little ecosystem.
“It will be exciting to see as time goes on, and it’s great we’re getting this rain, because it’ll help give the seedlings the best possible start.
“We’ll see what it looks like in a few years.”
Council’s next One Tree for Me seedling giveaway will be towards the end of August 2022.
For more information, visit wagga.nsw.gov.au/onetreeforme