Maitland to Celebrate Biodiversity Month with Community Events

Maitland City Council is inviting the community to come together in September to celebrate Biodiversity Month, with a focus on connecting with and caring for nature through a range of tree planting and birdwatching activities.

Starting on Sunday, 1 September from 1:00 pm, Maitland residents can pick up free native seedlings at the Maitland Regional Art Gallery. These seedlings can be planted in home gardens or backyards, contributing to biodiversity across the city. A second seedling giveaway will take place during the popular Street Eats event on Friday, 6 September at Golden Whistler Avenue Park, Aberglasslyn, from 5:00 pm until all seedlings have been handed out.

Residents are entitled to collect up to six seedlings per property at each giveaway, with proof of Maitland residency required.

A highlight of the month will be a community planting event at Somerset Sports Field, Thornton, on Monday, 30 September. From 8:00 am, the community is invited to help plant 320 new seedlings and support the restoration of a threatened ecological community in the area.

Catherine Pepper, Council’s Manager of Environment and Sustainability, said the planting event offers something for everyone. “Attendees of all ages will have the chance to spot and learn about local birdlife during a relaxed walk with the Hunter Bird Observers Club. We’ll also have morning tea and activities like craft and storytime run by Maitland Libraries,” she said.

The event is free, but bookings are required and can be made at mait.city/WetlandsTreePlanting.

As part of Biodiversity Month, the Council’s Environment and Sustainability team will work with students from Thornton Public School to plant 200 seedlings at a wetlands site in Thornton, reinforcing the importance of youth involvement in environmental initiatives.

“We all have a vital role to play in protecting Maitland’s natural spaces and the diverse species that inhabit them,” Ms Pepper added. “Biodiversity Month is the perfect time to take pride in our environment, get your hands dirty, and make a difference.”

Residents can also gear up for the Aussie Bird Count (14 to 20 October 2024) by borrowing birdwatching kits from Maitland City, East Maitland, Rutherford, and Thornton Libraries.

Ms Pepper emphasised the broader significance of Biodiversity Month in raising awareness of Council’s commitment to “delivering functional biodiversity corridors and protecting important natural spaces” across Maitland.