Community Tree Giveaway and family fun event

From 3-4pm any uncollected trees will be made available for walk-ins during the last hour of the event - so come along, join the fun and you might still snag one! (if any trees are left)

Its very likely that this will be an annual program, around the same time,  but held at a different venue each year.

To ensure you get the latest updates as they are posted, its best to follow the Sustainable Onkaparinga Facebook page.

At this point the day will run like this (timing is subject to change):

Yes - as long as you are an Onkaparinga resident and planting the tree in our region. 

We'll assume that if you are coming to collect a tree or shrub for planting in your garden - you will have already Ok'd this with your landlord.

Absolutely!!! We're trying to green as much of the 74% of private land within our council region as we can.

Pre-registrations for the tree giveaway event are for:

• Onkaparinga households (homeowners and renters) to plant in their gardens within Onkaparinga - for those of you renting, we assume that you have gained permission to plant from your landlord
• Onkaparinga community groups to plant at their locations within Onkaparinga - those groups leasing council land must check their lease agreements first and apply for landowner consent if necessary
• Small businesses with less than 20 employees located within Onkaparinga to plant at their premises.
  
  

Schools and ELCs should not pre-register or attend the giveaway event for trees.

 Instead, early learning centres and schools located within City of Onkaparinga can apply annually for free trees as part of a separate schools component but first need to be part of Green Adelaide's Sustainable Schools program.  The Green Adelaide southern education team, hosted within Council, can provide expert species advice, help with your planting event and a combined education offering that is linked to the curriculum and EYLF for the very best student outcomes.  If you're not already part of the program, it's easy to join! Click here to find out more and then reach out to Rob Wallace, southern team coordinator via rob.wallace@onkaparinga.sa.gov.au or 0418 151 300. 

No.  Due to the logistics of distributing 1,000 trees, collection will only be available at the Tree Giveaway Event on Sunday 15 June at the Aldinga Community Centre.

We know this might be a bit of a trip for those living in the northern parts of our region, but we hope you’ll make a day of it! The event isn’t just about picking up trees - it’s a chance to chat with our team of experts about tree planting, care, and maintenance, and to enjoy activities happening on the day.

This program is designed to move around the city each year to share the benefits across the whole community. Last year, we held the event at the Seaford Community Centre; this year it's Aldinga; next year it will move to a central or northern location.

In the first few years, we’re focusing on areas with recent development, where gardens are still taking shape and canopy cover is low - places that need a little extra help supporting native wildlife and cooling our suburbs.

If getting to Aldinga is tricky, why not team up with a friend, neighbour or relative and make the trip together? Pick up your trees, enjoy the event, and share the ride!

Yes absolutely!   We're looking for these trees to be the legacy for future generations to enjoy and benefit from and would like as many planted in residents gardens across the region as possible.  

If you don't have children in your family, why not see if your friends or neighbours kids or grandkids want to help plant your tree - by taking part in the physical act of planting, they will better understand the value of trees for both us and native animals. 

The trees for the giveaway will be provided as tubestock, which gives them the best chance of thriving once planted.

While they may not be giants, these trees will grow to a maximum height of 3-4 metres, making them perfect for most gardens.

These hardy trees are being grown within Onkaparinga by amazing Trees for Life volunteers using local remnant seed, so they’re well-suited for our region’s drier conditions. Species include:

• Melaleuca decussata (Cross-leaved Honey-myrtle)

• Acacia myrtifolia (Myrtle Wattle)

• Leptospermum continentale (Prickly Tea-Tree)

• Leptospermum myrsinoides (Heath Tea-Tree)

Trees for the separate schools component are being grown at the council Nursery in Seaford Meadows.

Absolutely, we've chosen this years tree species to suit most gardens as they grow to a maximum of 3-4 metres - incorporating any green space does wonders for cooling your home and your neighbourhood, and it can provide food and habitat for local native wildlife.

Come along to the event and our experts will guide you on what will work best for a small courtyard so that you go away feeling empowered to start greening your space.

If you need some inspo before our event, here are some handy design ideas to help you make the most of a small backyard.

If you have a new build did you know it’s also a requirement as part of South Australia’s Planning and Design Code to get greening? Any new home now has to factor in minimum standards for green cover, which includes things like a certain number of trees and a percentage of green cover, depending on the size of your block.  Check out the Adelaide Garden Guide for New Homes has all the details about what your new property might need.

No - these trees are purely for planting in your garden.

By providing free trees, we're aiming to help green, cool and provide habitat for native critters on the 74% of private land within our region that's out of our care and control - and that's why we need your help!

If you'd like a street or fruit tree planted in your verge, you can apply to our Adopt a Tree program instead - find out more here.