Get the Kids Involved - Plant a Tree
Have you ever wanted to help our environment but you weren't sure where to start? It could be as simple as planting a tree in your own back yard. This year the organisers of
Planet Ark's National Tree Day are making it easier than ever to lend a helping hand.
National Tree Day will be happening across Brisbane on Sunday 28th July, and Schools Tree Day is on Friday July 26th.
Planet Ark and
Toyota are calling on all Australians to 'Get Outside and Grow'. We can all help to make nature a part of our everyday lives where we live, learn, work and play. This year there are more ways to help. You can organise or attend a planting or activity at a local park, beach, school or nature reserve, but new this year, participants are able to organise a personal activity at home with family and friends in their backyard, on their balcony, or even along a local nature strip or street (council permitting).
Help to Regenerate a Local Area
By registering to plant a tree in your own back yard, participants will be in the running to win a luxurious getaway package worth close to $4000 at Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa. Registering online is quick and easy and costs nothing. If you aren't sure how to plant a tree, check out the online video on the Tree Day website where Ranger Stacey gives step by step instructions.
The
Planet Ark Website is an excellent source of inspiration, full of stories of how ordinary people and organisations have come together to help improve their local area. It also gives you a list of events happening in your local area and explains to you how to register yourself, your group or your school as participants.
As well as the obvious Environmental benefits of planting trees, there are health benefits to be had as well. On the website you can read about how "green time", interacting with nature, provides a myriad of health benefits to children, particularly as they seem to be spending more and more time playing indoors. A special report commissioned in 2012 entitled
Planting Trees: Just What the Doctor Ordered is available to be downloaded
here, which outlines the benefits of interaction with nature for children's health, wellbeing and development.
Native Tree Planting is Encouraged
Planet Ark encourage the planting of native spices local to the area in order to maintain local bio-diversity and to prevent the spread of weeds. For this reason they ask that any area you decide to plant is done with the assistance of an experienced bush regenerator. If you have any queries they ask that you call their National Hotline Number on 1300 88 5000.
This year Planet Ark are preparing for a milestone - to plant the 20-millionth seedling since the program began in 1996. You too can play your part and do something good for the environment and your health.
