WITH Schools Tree Day yesterday and National Tree Day tomorrow, many local groups have benefited from the free native trees being donated by the Southern Grampians Shire Council (SGSC) this week, with a chance to grab a free seedling at HIRL today.

Yesterday, Good Shepherd College, Hamilton, celebrated Schools Tree Day with a morning tree planting ceremony organised by the Student Leadership team.

Council helped provide 54 trees to the students which will be planted over the next few weeks across the campus. 

Year 11 student leader, Riley Millard helped organise the initiative and said it was good to get the whole school involved to discuss the importance of Schools Tree Day.

“Being an Agriculture school, planting trees is important because it is supporting what we stand for and also helps the environment,” he said.

The planting ceremony was led by Year 11 student leader, Will Bester who spoke on behalf of the Student Leadership Team about Schools Tree Day.

“Planting trees is crucial to keep us healthy for the years to come,” he said.

“We would like to thank the Southern Grampians Shire Council for donating these trees to us today.”

The ceremony was supported by Good Shepherd College science staff member, Tonya McRostie who provided students with information about the types of native trees to be planted at the college over the next few weeks.

“Planting trees creates habitats for birds and native wildlife,” Ms McRostie said.

“It stabilises our environment and helps stop soil erosion.

“Most of the trees we have been donated are eucalyptus and are red ironbarks, spotted gum and red box.

“This (red ironbark) tree being planted today can grow to around 30 metres high and will have the diameter of a dinner plate.”

Locals may have also noticed many native trees being planted alongside main local highways by Council’s Parks and Gardens team this week.

SGSC Natural Resource Management Field Officer, Marten Chin said over 150 trees had been planted so far to improve the streetscape and also to “cool the place down”.

“We’ve used lots of Australian natives, which attracts birds, gives shade, and aesthetics,” he said.

“It ties in nicely with Tree Day, and also with the heat mapping we are working on across the region.”

SGSC will continue their involvement with giving away free native tree seedlings today at the Hamilton Institute of Rural Learning (HIRL) this morning.

Mayor, David Robertson said there will be an opportunity to learn about Council’s new program ‘Gardens for Wildlife’, that is all about building native gardens and wildlife corridors.

“National Tree Day is a great opportunity to maintain and enhance our beautiful environment,” he said.

“This is vitally important for our local wildlife and ensures the region continues to be a great place to live.

“Over 27 million trees have been planted by more than five million Australian volunteers since 1996 and we support the goal of getting another million native plants in the ground this year.”

Today’s family friendly event at HIRL will be open to the whole community with information for caring for a seedling and plenty of garden inspiration.

There will be colouring and painting activities for the little ones and a chance to chat with Council’s Emergency Management Officer around vegetation management, fire safety and more.

SGSC Biodiversity and Emergency Management department will have a stall at the HIRL Farmers and Craft Market today, from 10am – 12pm, at HIRL, where locals can receive a free tree.

For more information please visit treeday.planetark.org