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, 8-10am (while stocks last)
  Earth Day Giveaway
  Maitland Administration Centre (outside rear entrance), 263 High Street, Maitland
  Due to Steamfest, please use High St via the Visitor Information Centre or Old Maitland Hospital.
• Wednesday 20 May, 9.30am
  World Bee Day
  All library locations

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.
• Energy Efficiency Workshop
  POSTPONED - new date TBC
• Great Unwaste Storytime
  Tuesday 14 April from 10am, Rutherford Library
  Wednesday 15 April from 10am, Thornton Library
  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.
• Youth Week - Bee Hotels and Seed Bombs
  Thursday 16 April, 10:30am or 1:30pm
  Nature and Nurture NSW, 11 Steam Street Maitland
  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.
• Storytime Compost Awareness Week
  Tuesday 5 May from 10am, Rutherford Library
  Wednesday 6 May from 10am, East Maitland Library
  Thursday 7 May from 10am, Thornton Library
  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. 
• Permaculture Fundamentals Workshop
  Tuesday 5 May, 2-3pm
  East Maitland Library, 3 Garnett Road, East Maitland
  Join us for an afternoon workshop celebrating International Permaculture Day. Learn how permaculture design principles can be applied in your backyard to support biodiversity, reduce waste, and live more sustainably. Book now.