For the third year in a row, Whyalla Council is celebrating National Tree Day with a free plant giveaway.

Previously held in the Whyalla Public Library carpark, this year there has been a venue shift to the Ada Ryan Gardens nursery compound.

Council staff will be on hand to hand out the free native shrubs and provide valuable information on the plants and where the best place would be to plant them in your own garden.

Council is offering one native shrub for each person who comes down to the rear gate of the Ada Ryan Gardens nursery compound between 9am and 12noon on Saturday 1 August.

All plants have been sourced from the Arid Lands Botanic Gardens in Port Augusta, with 1000 plants earmarked to give away to community members.

Planning for National Tree Day has been underway since this time last year, with an order placed with the Arid Lands Botanic Gardens straight after the 2019 event to ensure there would be available tube stock in the necessary quantities and of suitable size.

Council staff have also delivered ‘mystery boxes’ comprising a selection of 10 native plants to each school and kindy in Whyalla, while 1000 plants will be handed out to the public on Saturday 1 August.

In line with community expectations, Council staff have been creative and proactive in the planning and delivery of this year’s National Tree Day and this free plant giveaway is a covid-aware activity.

Residents are reminded that they need to adhere to social distancing requirements, be patient if needing to line up, and to follow all directions of staff.

The following covid protocols will be in place:

• Social distancing – ‘X’s will mark the spot where people are required to stand whilst queuing
• Hand sanitiser stations will be available
• Minimal contact – staff will locate your selected shrub and bring to you
• No public access to the Nursery compound – the giveaway will take place at the ‘rear gate’ facing into the Ada Ryan Gardens and members of the public will not be permitted to enter the Nursery compound

Pictured above are some of the tubestock sourced from the Arid Lands Botanic Gardens in Port Augusta, waiting to be given away as part of National Tree Day 2020