Greater Dandenong City Council is calling on the community to help improve our city’s tree coverage by taking part in planting events to celebrate National Tree Day.
As part of the weekend of tree planting, Council is also launching its own rollout of the international One Tree Per Child initiative.
Tomorrow (Friday 28 July), 800 local grade 3 children from 14 primary schools will plant 2,300 trees and shrubs as part of the One Tree Per Child program launch at Springvalley Reserve, Springvale South.
One Tree Per Child was started by Olivia Newton-John and Jon Dee back in 2013. Now planting trees in 10 countries, the initiative aims to get every child to plant at least one tree.
Council is committed to planting more trees and plants to increase the municipality’s tree canopy and to enhance biodiversity.
Mayor, Cr Eden Foster said the One Tree Per Child initiative aimed to have local children planting thousands of trees before the end of 2023.
“Council has a vision that our city can be healthy, green and resilient; and we can achieve this by planting more trees.
“How exciting for these students to plant a tree that they can grow up alongside. We know our city doesn’t have enough trees and we love that we can involve the whole community to make a difference,” the Mayor said.
Keysborough South Ward Councillor Rhonda Garad instigated Council’s participation in the One Tree Per Child program.
“Through these initiatives we are taking action to tackle climate change and make a positive contribution to the local community. What a difference planting a tree can make,” said Cr Garad.
One Tree Per Child co-founder Jon Dee is an award-winning environmentalist and is travelling to Greater Dandenong to take part in Council’s launch and local plantings.
Jon said planting a tree encourages children to volunteer and give back to their local community.
"As children grow, they will see their tree making a positive difference as it improves the environment and creates habitat for local wildlife.
“It is wonderful to see Greater Dandenong City Council getting children involved in improving the environment.
“One Tree Per Child fully supports Council’s push to green up Greater Dandenong. We look forward to seeing local children and schools planting many thousands of trees and shrubs in the years to come,” Jon said.
Since 1996 more than 26 million trees have been planted nationally via the annual Planet Ark National Tree Day event.
This weekend Council will host two National Tree Day planting events for the public. People can join Council’s plantings at Tirhatuan Park, Dandenong North, on Saturday 29 July from 10am-1pm, or attend the official National Tree Day celebration at Springvalley Reserve, Springvale South on Sunday 30 July from 10am-3pm
