Alpine Shire Council has once again partnered with primary and secondary schools across Alpine Shire to take part in Planet Ark's School Tree Day and National Tree Day events.
Students and volunteers from Bright P-12 College, Dederang Primary School, Harrietville Primary School, Marian College, Porepunkah Primary School, Wandiligong Primary School, and Tawonga Primary School planted a total of 355 native shrubs, trees, and grasses across seven different sites throughout the month of July.
This year celebrated 30 years of National Tree Day and, consistent with the 2026 theme of Get Outside and Grow, students explored how small, hands-on actions can contribute to restoring landscapes and strengthening community connections to the environment.
Alpine Shire Mayor, Cr Sarah Nicholas, said that these events connect students with nature and highlight the importance of trees and vegetation for biodiversity, healthy ecosystems, and climate mitigation and resilience.
"The most terrific part of National Tree Day is that it gives us the opportunity to talk about the types of native species that thrive in our Alpine environment and how planting locally appropriate vegetation supports long-term environmental outcomes," she said.
"This year, we had 321 volunteers planting 32 grasses, 65 trees, and 258 shrubs across our region, which will provide a range of environmental and community benefits, including improving habitat for local wildlife, enhancing urban cooling, supporting soil health, and capturing carbon from the atmosphere.
"Together, we are helping to create greener, healthier, and more resilient communities."
The seven plantings held in Alpine Shire contribute to Australia’s largest community tree-planting and nature care event, which has engaged millions of volunteers and resulted in more than 28 million trees planted since 1996.
Council extends a warm thank you to all students, teachers, families, and Landcare volunteers who got involved to make the week a tree-mendous success by supporting this important national initiative.
More information Planet Ark's School Tree Day and National Tree Day can be found online by visiting https://nationaltreeday.org.au/