Shepparton's One Tree Per Child Project gets 'growing'

Little trees lined Shepparton’s Kittles Rd as children and adults came together for the launch of the One Tree Per Child project on Thursday.

Owen. 2, and Imogen Sargeant, 4, work together
  to plant a tree in Shepparton's One Tree Per
Child Project.

The event kicked off to a positive start with Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor Dinny Adem announcing that every year for the next five years 16 000 trees would be planted in the local government area.

Greater Shepparton has about 16 000 people aged under 18 in the area and each of them will be given the chance to plant a tree.

The One Child Per Tree project was created by Olivia Newton John and Do Something’s John Dee.

Do Something chairman Andrew Randall said it was terrific to see so many people at the launch of One Tree Per Child and he was impressed by the council’s goal to plant 16 000 trees each year.

He said the project was created to encourage young people to engage with and understand nature.

‘‘You can watch your tree grow as you’re growing,’’ he said.

Mr Randall said in the two years the One Tree Per Child Project had been running, so far 180 000 trees had been planted across Australia and the initiative had been rolled out in nine other countries.

Greater Shepparton City Council chief executive officer Peter Harriott congratulated those who came out to plant trees.

‘‘It’s a fantastic thing to be out planting trees,’’ he said.