Seedlings, trees and community planting

Building a greener future for Maitland

Our Greening Plan aims to enhance the urban environment with strategic plantings, seedlings, and street trees. These efforts help create a cooler, more sustainable city, improve air quality, and support a vibrant ecosystem.

Get involved

Join local planting events, request street trees, or use our free native seedling giveaway to help make Maitland greener and more resilient.

Upcoming Greening events

Native seedling giveaway

Maitland residents can attend seedling giveaway events held throughout the year to receive free native shrubs and groundcovers suitable for urban backyards, with shrubs typically growing up to 3-4 meters tall. Tenants are required to get landowner approval before collecting.

Each household can collect up to six (6) seedlings for one property, available while stocks last. Proof of Maitland residency is required.

• Seedling Giveaway
  Saturday 26 September, 8.30am - 11am
  Maitland Administration Centre
  A selection of native plants that will help encourage native birds, frogs, pollinators, and mammals into your backyard.

Community planting days

Council hosts Community Planting Days in Autumn and Spring, inviting residents to plant trees and ask environmental experts about biodiversity. Bring a hat, drink bottle, gloves, long sleeves, pants, and enclosed footwear to participate as we work together to green Maitland’s local spaces.

• No upcoming planting days

Green Communities events

The Council runs periodic community events and workshops on living a more environmentally sustainable life, covering topics such as backyard gardening, waste management, stormwater management, energy and water use, and planting native vegetation.

• Earth Market Environment and Sustainability
  Join us at the first Thursday of every month at Earth Market from 9am-11am to have a chat about all things environment and sustainability with Council.
• Sustainability Film Screening and Panel
  Saturday 12 September, 2-5pm
  Reading Cinema Maitland, 9/1A Ken Tubman Dr, Maitland
  Enjoy and afternoon hearing from an environmental sustainability panel of local community members followed by a screening of the film 2040. Bookings required. 
• Biodiversity Month Storytime
  Tuesday 15 September, 10am - Rutherford Library
  Wednesday 16 September, 10am - East Maitland Library
  Thursday 17 September, 10am - Thornton Library
  Learn all about the biodiversity found across our region and the importance of healthy natural environment systems. Free event. 
• Solar and Batteries 101 - Community Information Session
  Tuesday 22 September, 6-7pm
  East Maitland Library
  Learn more about home solar and batteries. Free event. 
• World Rivers Day MRAG Workshop
  Monday 28 September, 10.30-11.30am
  Maitland Regional Art Gallery
  Join members of our Environment and Sustainability team to learn all about the biodiversity found across our waterways. Bookings required. 
• Aussie Bird Count Storytime Sessions
  Tuesday 13 October, 10am - Rutherford Library
  Wednesday 14 October, 10am - East Maitland Library
  Thursday 15 October, 10am - Thornton Library
  Learn all about the Birdlife Australia Aussie Bird Count, and how to get involved. Free event.
• National Water Week Storytime
  Tuesday 20 October, 10am - Rutherford Library
  Wednesday 21 October, 10am - East Maitland Library
  Thursday 22 October, 10am - Thornton Library
  Learn about how to care for our waterways and how to reduce water usage at home.
• Learn to use citizen science technology
  Thursday 5 November, 11am-12:30pm
  East Maitland Library
  Find out about the Australian Museum National FrogID Week and how to use the app. Free event.
• National Recycling Week Storytime
  Tuesday 10 November, 10am - Rutherford Library
  Wednesday 11 November, 10am - East Maitland Library
  Thursday 12 November, 10am - Thornton Library
  Learn about using your recycling bin correctly and about other recycling options around Maitland.