Murrindindi Shire Council, together with hundreds of students and volunteers, planted more than 2,350 native plants throughout the Shire as part of this year's National Tree Day program. Schools, Landcare groups, volunteers and community organisations held planting activities at 17 sites across Alexandra, Yea, Thornton, Eildon, Kinglake and surrounding communities, including waterways, reserves, school grounds and public open spaces.
A highlight of this year's program was the strong involvement of young people, with 13 schools participating across Murrindindi with 222 students contributing to planting activities. Council-supported planting events involved 280 participants, contributing a combined 402 volunteer hours.
Council worked alongside Upper Goulburn Landcare Network, Kinglake Landcare and schools across Murrindindi to provide students with a hands-on opportunity to learn about biodiversity, habitat restoration and caring for their local environment.
The thousands of new plants will help improve biodiversity, enhance local waterways and create valuable habitat for native wildlife. Students will be able to see the trees and shrubs they planted mature over the coming years, creating habitat for native wildlife and improving local environments.
Sustainability and Assets Portfolio Councillor Paul Hildebrand said National Tree Day demonstrated the positive outcomes that can be achieved when communities work towards a shared goal.
"National Tree Day is a wonderful example of people of all ages coming together to improve our local environment," Cr Hildebrand said.
"Many of these plantings will still be thriving decades from now. It's fantastic to see young people helping restore local habitats and making a lasting contribution to their communities.
"Following the January fires, we've seen how strongly our community values the natural environment. Programs like National Tree Day give our communities a practical way to invest in the long-term health and resilience of the landscape we all share."
This year's program was supported by six Landcare groups working alongside Council, the Eildon-Thornton Football Netball Club and dozens of community volunteers, with additional National Tree Day planting activities also undertaken on private land by local Landcare groups.
Council also celebrated National Tree Day through its Read, Learn & Win pollinator-themed program. The initiative received 36 entries from children across Alexandra, Yea and Kinglake, with four winners each receiving a pair of binoculars. Every participant also received a native plant for planting at home to encourage an ongoing connection with nature and biodiversity.
Council thanks all participating schools, Landcare groups, volunteers and community organisations for helping make this year's National Tree Day activities a success and for their ongoing commitment to creating a greener and more sustainable Murrindindi.
Fast facts
- 2,350 total native plants planted
- 1,013 native plants planted by students
- 17 planting sites across the Shire
- 13 schools participated
- 222 students
- 280 participants at Council-supported planting events
- 402 volunteer hours contributed
- 6 Landcare groups partnered with Council
- 36 entries received in the Read, Learn & Win program
Pictured above: Students and staff from Kinglake Primary School at their National Tree Day event on Monday 20 July 2026 in Kinglake West.
Pictured: Zanni Waldstein from Upper Goulburn Landcare Network talking to students and staff from Alexandra and St Mary's Primary Schools at a National Tree Day planting event on Friday 24 July 2026.
Pictured: Mayor Damien Gallagher and volunteers at the public National Tree Day event on Sunday 26 July 2026 at Station Street, Alexandra.
Pictured: Local volunteer Rebecca at the public National Tree Day event on Sunday 26 July 2026 at Station Street, Alexandra.
