Schools Tree Planting Week

Written by Mr Dwayne Ganci (Head of Sustainability & Agriculture)

06 August 2026

Last week, from 24–31 July, Aitken College participated in Schools Tree Planting Week. Throughout the week, students planted a variety of indigenous shrubs and flowering plants across several environmental projects to help increase our biodiversity while providing authentic learning opportunities.

This year's planting was made possible through the generous donation of indigenous plants from the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and Hume City Council. Their support has enabled our students to establish habitats that will continue to benefit local wildlife and our school community for many years to come.

Students contributed to the following areas around the College:

Golden Sun Moth Habitat – helping to protect the critically endangered Golden Sun Moth and raise student awareness of the importance of conserving threatened species and their habitats.
Brodies Creek Revegetation and Pond – planting indigenous vegetation to improve creek biodiversity, enhance water quality, reduce erosion and restore habitat along the waterway.
Pollinator Gardens – establishing gardens to increase biodiversity, support agricultural productivity and enhance the beauty of our school grounds.
Bush Tucker Garden – expanding a space that promotes biodiversity while providing students with opportunities to learn about Aboriginal culture and the traditional uses of native bush foods.

One of the highlights of this year's planting was the development of our pollinator gardens. These gardens provide an important habitat for native bees, butterflies, birds and other beneficial insects that are essential for pollinating many flowering plants and food crops. Without pollinators, the production of many fruits, vegetables and seeds would decline significantly.

The week concluded with our Cumberland Sustainability Class Leaders attending the Grassland Field Day on Friday 31 July at Kokoda Drive Native Grassland Reserve and Angela Potts Park. During the excursion, students worked alongside environmental educators to help restore native grasslands by planting indigenous grasses and wildflowers while learning about the importance of conserving one of Victoria's most endangered ecosystems.

The Grassland Field Day formed part of the Hume’s Schools for Nature project, supported through funding from Microsoft Corporation and delivered in partnership with the Grassy Plains Network and the Victorian National Parks Association.

Schools Tree Planting Week is held in conjunction with National Tree Day, Australia's largest community tree planting and nature protection event. Since its establishment in 1996 by Planet Ark and Olivia Newton-John, National Tree Day has inspired millions of Australians to restore habitats and care for the environment.