Wagga Wagga City Council's One Tree for Me campaign is coming to an end, with four opportunities left for residents to get some free native seedlings to plant at home.
One Tree for Me is a six-year campaign established in 2021 and aims to get 65,000 seedlings planted in our local area by the end of the program in 2026.
The purpose of the campaign is to highlight the importance of prioritising locally native plant species in our urban spaces and to empower residents to support the natural environment by making their own backyards part of a larger urban bush corridor.
Environmental Education Officer Christina Reid said the seedlings that are given away are carefully selected and sourced from local nurseries.
"Each year of the One Tree for Me campaign we have chosen plant species that have evolved to thrive in the Wagga Wagga climate," Ms Reid said.
"They are hardy and easy to grow and will support locally native birds and other pollinators.
"We also choose small trees and shrubs that, when they've matured, won't interfere with power lines or sewage infrastructure."
Giveaways are held during the colder months as this is the best time of year to plant them and are held at different locations throughout the local government area to ensure all residents have the opportunity to access them.
By the end of 2025, Council had held 19 giveaways in 13 locations, this combined with community plantings, such as National Tree Day, means more than 59,550 seedlings have been planted since 2021.
"With nearly another 10,000 trees planned for our 2026 season, we are well on track to surpass our original target of 65,000 trees," Christina Reid said.
"We encourage residents to make the most of the last of the One Tree for Me seedling giveaways this year."
The first seedling giveaway for 2026 will be held on Saturday 13 June at the Tiny Forest site on Wilks Avenue, Kooringal, from 10am to 2pm, or until the seedlings run out.
This will be followed in July with a giveaway at the Drive In Leisure Centre at Gumly Gumly and subsequent events in August and September (these venues are to be confirmed).
