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.

• Saturday 18 April, 9am
  Maitland Administration Centre (outside rear entrance), 263 High Street, Maitland

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 workshops

The Council runs periodic community 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.
• Recycling and going circular with waste
  Thursday 5 March, 10.30am - 11.30am
  Rutherford Library, 13 Arthur Street, Rutherford
  Join us for a practical session on making the most of Council’s waste services, including how to dispose of everyday items correctly, declutter responsibly and access free recycling options available to Maitland residents. Free event, no bookings required.
• Get involved with citizen science
  Tuesday 10 March, 9.30am - 10.30am
  East Maitland Library, 3 Garnett Road, East Maitland
  Join us for an interactive session exploring how you can support environmental research, connect with others and contribute to conservation through hands-on citizen science activities. A light morning tea is provided. Book now.
• Great Unwaste Storytime
  Members of the Environment and Sustainability team will join Storytime at our libraries to share ways to avoid the food and packaging waste that comes with preparing lunchboxes.
  Rutherford Library, Tuesday 14 April from 10am
  Thornton Library, Wednesday 15 April from 10am
• Youth Week - Bee Hotels and Seed Bombs
  The Environment and Sustainability team, with Nature and Nurture, are offering 8-15 year olds the opportunity to participate in bee hotel and seed bomb making workshops.  Please note: participants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian (the $5 ticket covers both the participant and guardian). Book now.
  Thursday 16 April, 10:30am or 1:30pm
  Nature and Nurture NSW, 11 Steam Street Maitland
• Storytime Compost Awareness Week
  Members of the Environment and Sustainability team will join Storytime at our libraries to teach all about home composting and worm farming. Learn small steps that help us all care for the environment together. 
  Tuesday 5 May Rutherford Library from 10am
  Wednesday 6 May East Maitland Library from 10am
  Thursday 7 May Thornton Library from 10am