Maitland City Council is celebrating Biodiversity Month this September by offering residents free seedlings.
The council will host two free seedling giveaways, encouraging the community to plant native species in their backyards.
“We all have a vital role to play in protecting Maitland’s natural spaces and the diverse species that inhabit them,” Council’s Manager of Environment and Sustainability, Catherine Pepper said.
“Biodiversity Month is the perfect opportunity to take pride in our local environment, get your hands dirty and pitch in.”
The first seedling distribution will take place at the Maitland Regional Art Gallery on Sunday, 1 September, starting at 1:00 pm.
Residents are invited to collect up to six native seedlings per property, with proof of Maitland residency required.
For those unable to attend the initial event, a second seedling giveaway is scheduled for Friday, 6 September, at Golden Whistler Avenue Park, Aberglasslyn. This event, held during the popular Street Eats festival, will begin at 5:00 pm and continue until all seedlings have been distributed.
Both events aim to distribute as many seedlings as possible, underscoring the importance of native planting in preserving local ecosystems.
In addition to these giveaways, Maitland City Council will cap off Biodiversity Month with a community planting event on Monday, 30 September, at Somerset Sports Field in Thornton. Starting at 8:00 am, residents are encouraged to join the effort to restore the threatened ecological community by planting 320 new seedlings.
For more information on how to get involved in Maitland’s Biodiversity Month events, visit mait.city/BiodiversityMonth.
