What is The Seedling Bank?

Since 1996, National Tree Day has seen Australian communities plant almost 26 million trees. The Seedling Bank aims to further support these dedicated volunteers with their planting efforts by providing financial support where seedlings are needed most.

The program launched in 2019 with the goal of supplying native seedlings to schools and community groups around Australia. Financial grants are awarded directly to successful applicants to get seedlings in the ground and help restore our unique Australian landscape.

So far, 132 groups have received funding through Planet Ark's Seedling Bank and almost 74,000 seedlings have been planted around Australia.

The Seedling Bank supports projects both big and small throughout the year, as we believe every day is Tree Day.

How the program works

1. Donations secured from individuals & businesses
2. 2023 grant applications now open - closing Friday 24th February, 2023
3. Seedlings purchased from local nurseries
4. Community plantings across Australia
Apply Now

To apply, just log in and add your application to your registered National Tree Day event.

Meet some of our beneficiaries so far...

Friends of Lake Claremont - WA

The Friends of Lake Claremont (FOLC) group are based in Perth and have been regenerating the lake Claremont area for over 30 years. This area was previously used as a rubbish tip and golf course, however, has been revegetated with native plants to re-establish the area as a critical location within the South West Australian Biodiversity Hotspot. The planting activities funded by the Seedling Bank grant have continued efforts to improve and restore critical habitat for a number of endemic plant and animal species, including the endangered Carnaby's Black Cockatoo.

Wilsons River Landcare - NSW

The Wilsons River Landcare group are based in Lismore, northern New South Wales. The lowland subtropical rainforest in this area has been reduced by a staggering 99%, with only 1% of its former range currently remaining. The Wilsons River group used their Seedling Bank grant to bring the local community together to continue restoring and expanding this endangered ecosystem, particularly in riverbank rainforest areas.

Friends of Moana Sands Conservation Park - SA

Moana Sands Conservation Park is an area south of Adelaide that boasts both environmental and cultural significance. The area is home to significant Aboriginal cultural heritage sites, that include many archaeological artefacts and burial sites. The Friends of Moana Sands used their grant to plant seedlings with the goal of protecting both the cultural heritage of this area and restoring the sand dunes that provide crucial habitat for native bird and reptile species in the region.

Nature Glenelg Trust and Grant High School - SA

Nature Glenelg Trust and year 9 and 10 students from Grant High School teamed up to plant 400 seedlings just outside Mount Gambier, South Australia. This project is focused on the revegetation of Mt Burr Swamp, which was a drained and degraded wetland used for agricultural grazing. This area is home to 6 nationally threatened species and this revegetation project will increase habitat and connectivity in this area.

Nature Glenelg Trust and Frances Primary School - SA

Nature Glenelg Trust collaborated with Frances Primary School students to continue work on the restoration of Eaglehawk Waterhole in rural South East South Australia. This area was formerly grazing land, however it has been highlighted as a conservation priority area as it still retains plant diversity in certain parts. Revegetation activities are establishing both under and upper storey habitats and improving the quality and connectivity of these habitats to encourage native wildlife to the area.

Mulgrave Landcare - QLD

Mulgrave Landcare, based just south of Cairns, used funding from The Seedling Bank to plant native trees in the Mulgrave River catchment area with many members of the local community. A central goal of this group is to restore degraded wetland and riparian areas. In addition to providing habitat for endemic flora and fauna, restoration of this area will improve the quality of water flowing out to the Great Barrier Reef.

Mudgeeraba State School - QLD

Mudgeeraba State School, located in the Gold Coast Hinterland, used funding from The Seedling Bank to improve the ecological value of their school grounds. The students planted a range of small trees, grasses and shrubs, with the aim of attracting birds and insects, including the Black Cockatoo which is found in the area. Undertaking this project was also an opportunity for participating students to learn about biodiversity, the importance of native plants and how to plant seedlings.

Brettacorp - QLD

Brettacorp, located in Tully, North Queensland, have spent years working on conservation and revegetation projects in the Cassowary Coast area. The Seedling Bank funding was used to continue the development of a forest, which will increase biodiversity in the area, provide habitat for native animals, including the Southern Cassowary and Mahogany Glider, as well as improving water quality in the area.

Garibaldi Landcare - VIC

Located south of Ballarat in rural Victoria, Garibaldi Landcare group used a grant from The Seedling Bank to continue work on 2 major projects. Outcomes from these projects have included the removal of invasive grasses and thistles and replacement with salt tolerant native trees and shrubs suited to local conditions, including two critically endangered tree species. Additionally, the creation of wildlife corridors, which will establish over time, linking habitats for a range of native animals.

UT Creek Landcare - VIC

The UT Creek - Maintongoon Landcare Group are based in Alexandra, Victoria and work on a range of weeding and revegetation projects in the area. Funding from The Seedling Bank was used to continue the restoration of a wildlife corridor along the rail trail. The trees, shrubs and grasses planted in this area will connect and expand the existing patches of remnant vegetation and provide habitat for small mammals, birds, reptiles and insects.

Snowy Valleys School - NSW

Snowy Valleys School, located in Tumut, New South Wales, is a school that supports students with physical and intellectual disabilities. The students and teachers used funding from The Seedling Bank to undertake a project at their school to create a large native garden that will provide habitat and food for reptiles, birds and other pollinators, as well as a calming, interactive sensory garden for the students.

Weddin Community Native Nursery

Weddin Nursery is the first nursery propagation project to be supported as part of The Seedling Bank. Located in Grenfell, New South Wales, the nursery is in the process of propagating 1500 native seedlings that are suited to the often dry conditions in this part of rural NSW. Once developed, these seedlings will then be distributed to schools and community groups to plant as part of National Tree Day activities in the area in 2021.

Howrah Primary School - TAS

Howrah is located on the banks of the Derwent River, near Hobart Tasmania. The students and teachers at Howrah Primary School are working on a project to create habitat for local bandicoots. In collaboration with a local Landcare group, the school is creating a corridor for the southern brown bandicoots and eastern barred bandicoots that frequent the area. A range of shrubs and grasses were planted with funding from The Seedling Bank and will create safe havens for Howrah's bandicoots, under threat from habitat loss and predation by cats and foxes.

Nyirrunggulung-Rise - Manyallaluk, NT

Nyirrunggulung Rise works to create employment and training opportunities and support social infrastructure, primarily in small Aboriginal communities in Central Arnhem Land, near Katherine NT. Tree planting is one of the training and community engagement opportunities provided for Aboriginal people on welfare. With funding from The Seedling Bank, 750 native seedlings were planted across three small communities and the shade of these trees will allow for people to gather and connect out of the heat of the harsh sun, while also providing habitat and shelter for the range of wildlife that inhabits Central Arnhem Land.

WA College of Agriculture - Morawa

Morawa is a small, agricultural community in rural Western Australia, north of Perth. The students and teachers at WA College of Agriculture used funding from The Seedling Bank to plant trees and shrubs that are salt tolerant and have multiple uses such as bush tucker, carbon sequestration and habitat for wildlife. The land has high salinity and these native plants will assist in the rehabilitation of this area, promoting increased ecosystem health and biodiversity.

Oxley Creek Catchment Association - Brisbane, QLD

Oxley Creek Commons in Brisbane, Queensland is a well loved nature park and birding hotspot, with 223 species spotted at the park, including migratory species from as far away as Russia and Japan. The Oxley Creek Catchment Association, in collaboration with bush care groups and local community members pkanted 750 trees, shrubs and grasses funded by The Seedling Bank, along Oxley Creek to connect the grasslands to the waterway, creating more habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Broken Hill Landcare

Broken Hill, located in outback New South Wales, is one of Australia's oldest mining towns and also has a long history of grazing in this desert landscape. Broken Hill Landcare is taking on the task of 'greening the red' in this fragile area and regenerating land that has been degraded by mining and agricultural activities for decades. Funding from The Seedling Bank will allow this group of dedicated volunteers to continue work on the 'regeneration belt' project which began in the 1930s, to protect this arid zone oasis into the future.

Tooborac Primary School - VIC

Tooborac Primary School, in regional Victoria sits amongst many large old trees that are used by threatened birds, mammals and the elusive brush-tailed phascogales for nesting. Though these acrobatic marsupials are mostly arboreal, they descend to the ground to hunt insects. Funding from The Seedling Bank was used by teachers and students to plant native shrubs and grasses to increase the amount of foraging habitat for the phascogales and also provide shelter from predators while they're on the ground.

Kaleen Primary School - Canberra, ACT

Kaleen Primary School is located in the northern suburbs of Canberra, ACT, a city with so much green space it is known as 'the bush capital' of Australia. Kaleen Primary has taken a holistic approach to reducing its carbon footprint by implementing a range of programs, from waste reduction and recycling systems to sustainable water use, tree planting and other gardening projects. With funding from The Seedling Bank, students and teachers were able to continue expanding their 'carbon forest', by adding another 130 trees, shrubs and grasses.

Nyirrunggulung-Rise - Manyallaluk, NT

Nyirrunggulung Rise works to create employment and training opportunities and support social infrastructure, primarily in small Aboriginal communities in Central Arnhem Land, near Katherine NT. Tree planting is one of the training and community engagement opportunities provided for Aboriginal people on welfare. With funding from The Seedling Bank, 750 native seedlings were planted across three small communities and the shade of these trees will allow for people to gather and connect out of the heat of the harsh sun, while also providing habitat and shelter for the range of wildlife that inhabits Central Arnhem Land.

Kaleen Primary School - Canberra, ACT

Kaleen Primary School is located in the northern suburbs of Canberra, ACT, a city with so much green space it is known as 'the bush capital' of Australia. Kaleen Primary has taken a holistic approach to reducing its carbon footprint by implementing a range of programs, from waste reduction and recycling systems to sustainable water use, tree planting and other gardening projects. With funding from The Seedling Bank, students and teachers were able to continue expanding their 'carbon forest', by adding another 130 trees, shrubs and grasses.

Tooborac Primary School - VIC

Tooborac Primary School, in regional Victoria sits amongst many large old trees that are used by threatened birds, mammals and the elusive brush-tailed phascogales for nesting. Though these acrobatic marsupials are mostly arboreal, they descend to the ground to hunt insects. Funding from The Seedling Bank was used by teachers and students to plant native shrubs and grasses to increase the amount of foraging habitat for the phascogales and also provide shelter from predators while they're on the ground.

Broken Hill Landcare

Broken Hill, located in outback New South Wales, is one of Australia's oldest mining towns and also has a long history of grazing in this desert landscape. Broken Hill Landcare is taking on the task of 'greening the red' in this fragile area and regenerating land that has been degraded by mining and agricultural activities for decades. Funding from The Seedling Bank will allow this group of dedicated volunteers to continue work on the 'regeneration belt' project which began in the 1930s, to protect this arid zone oasis into the future.

Oxley Creek Catchment Association - Brisbane, QLD

Oxley Creek Commons in Brisbane, Queensland is a well loved nature park and birding hotspot, with 223 species spotted at the park, including migratory species from as far away as Russia and Japan. The Oxley Creek Catchment Association, in collaboration with bush care groups and local community members pkanted 750 trees, shrubs and grasses funded by The Seedling Bank, along Oxley Creek to connect the grasslands to the waterway, creating more habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Nyirrunggulung-Rise - Manyallaluk, NT

Nyirrunggulung Rise works to create employment and training opportunities and support social infrastructure, primarily in small Aboriginal communities in Central Arnhem Land, near Katherine NT. Tree planting is one of the training and community engagement opportunities provided for Aboriginal people on welfare. With funding from The Seedling Bank, 750 native seedlings were planted across three small communities and the shade of these trees will allow for people to gather and connect out of the heat of the harsh sun, while also providing habitat and shelter for the range of wildlife that inhabits Central Arnhem Land.

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Community-led projects around Australia are helping to restore our unique landscape.

Together we can create positive change.