Last chance to get free seedlings

Don’t miss your chance to grab some free seedlings to fill your garden! Council’s final seedling giveaway for 2024 will be held on Saturday 7 September from 11am until 3pm, or until all seedlings are given away.

Head on down to the Museum of the Riverina, Botanic Gardens site, where staff will be waiting to hand out native seedlings specifically picked with our local area in mind.

Council’s Environmental Education Officer Christina Reid said Council has held two successful giveaways already this year.

“Earlier this year we visited Gumly Gumly and Estella  to hand out seedlings, as well as Bomen for our National Tree Day planting event in July,” Ms Reid said.

“This last session means anyone who might have missed out previously has a chance to grab some seedlings, and returners are also welcome, too.”

The One Tree for Me initiative was launched in 2021 and aims to see 65,000 native seedlings planted throughout our local area over a six-year period.

“Council does plant in public space areas, but our backyards are an important stepping stone for animals, and by filling our yards with native plants we can help them travel safely between natural bushland areas as well as creating a beautiful space for you to relax outside.”

The last event in September will also fall on National Threatened Species Day, and both Council’s environment team and museum staff have fun, themed activities in mind.

National Threatened Species Day recognises the many species that are in decline due to land clearing and loss of habitat.

“The One Tree for me initiative focuses on local action to help maintain biodiversity,” Ms Reid said.

“By planting seedlings in our own backyards we replace some of the habitat that has been cleared and support some of our littlest native critters, such as bees, butterflies and birds.”

“The site of the Museum at the Botanic Gardens is set in one of the most beautifully preserved native habits right in the middle of our city, so we thought it would be the perfect place for our last giveaway for 2024 to be on Threatened Species Day.”

To help support this special day, the Museum will be providing a range of activities that the whole family can enjoy and is designed to educated and highlight why our native gardens are so important.

To find out more about the One Tree for Me initiative, visit the One Tree for Me page on our website.