NEWS

How to host a successful Schools Tree Day event

By Katie Loughran 11 February 2025

This year, Schools Tree Day is set to take place on Friday 25 July. This event is an opportunity for students, teachers and the wider school community to come together in support of our natural environment. Since 1996, National Tree Day has grown into Australia’s largest community tree planting event, with thousands of schools, families and volunteers across the nation making a positive impact on their local environment.

Why participate in Schools Tree Day?  

Schools Tree Day isn’t just about planting trees, it’s about inspiring future generations to care for the planet. By taking part, your school can: 

• Enhance student’s connection to nature: Hands-on activities like tree planting, gardening and habitat building help students develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of their native habitat.  

• Promote environmental education: Schools Tree Day is a fantastic way to integrate sustainability into the curriculum, providing students with meaningful experiences that teach them about ecosystems, biodiversity and conservation. 

• Foster a culture of sustainability: Whether it’s creating a bush tucker garden, running a composting workshop or taking part in a community planting event; these activities support the creation of an Environmental Management Plan for your school, embedding sustainable practices into everyday life for your students.  

How to get your school involved Getting involved in Schools Tree Day is easy. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started: 

1. Appoint a site coordinator: Choose a teacher or staff member to take charge of the event and coordinate the logistics. This person will be responsible for overseeing the planning process and ensuring everything runs smoothly.  

2. Pick a date and location: While the official Schools Tree Day is on 25 July this year, your school can participate at any time during the year. Choose a location that’s meaningful, whether it’s your school grounds, a local park or a community green space. 

3. Register your event: Once your date and location are sorted, head over to the National Tree Day Coordinator Hub and register your event. This simple step ensures your school is part of the nationwide tally. To date, over 28 million trees, shrubs, and grasses have been planted by more than 5 million people across the country. By hosting a Schools Tree Day event, your school becomes part of this incredible effort to restore and preserve the natural world for future generations. 

4. Apply for a grant from The Seedling Bank: The Seedling Bank offers schools and community groups funding for native seedlings. Apply via your event registration form before 1 March.  

5. Plan and promote your activities: There are endless ways to get creative with Schools Tree Day! You can host a tree planting activity, restore a degraded natural area, or organise fun activities such as making a bush tucker garden or setting up a wildlife habitat. You could even run nature-themed arts and crafts sessions or environmental games to get everyone involved. 

6. Get the whole school community involved: Involve students, teachers, parents and local community members in the event. The more hands-on you get, the greater the positive impact you’ll have on your local environment.  

 How to get started 

To make the most of your Schools Tree Day event, download a range of helpful resources from our Schools Guide and Toolkit.  

Download our free lesson plans in collaboration with Deadly Ed which take you through all the steps before, during and after your event.  

Explore the inspiring case studies in last year’s Tree Talk report for ideas and tips from other schools who have already taken part.  

By participating in Schools Tree Day, you’re not only helping to improve your local environment but also empowering students to become active stewards of the planet. So, gather your students, get planting, and make a difference that will last for years to come! 

Register now.