Council to give away free plants

CASEY council will give away free plants at the Westfield Fountain Gate and Centro Cranbourne shopping centres from Wednesday, 17 May, to Saturday, 20 May.
The Arbor Week celebration, now in its fifth year, is part of the community-based Growing a Green Web program.
This aims to revegetate open space in the City of Casey through volunteer involvement.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford said the program resulted in 20,000 new plants growing on public land across the municipality each year.
He said this was done with the assistance of schools, Friends groups, committees of management, service clubs and correctional services.
Distribution will be on a first come, first-served basis at the shopping centres, from 9.30am-5pm on 17 to 19 May, and 9am-noon on Saturday, 20 May.“Casey’s Arbor Week Plant Give away is an import element of the council’s commitment to maintaining and enhancing the local native vegetation.
“Residents and businesses have a central role to play in nurturing these plants on their properties, to help ensure the future of Casey’s five distinct geographical areas,” Cr Bradford said.
“Plants to be given away will include a mixture of trees, shrubs and groundcovers suitable to the local area.
“A blend of hardy Australian natives and local indigenous plants have been chosen to offer ratepayers a choice according to their neighbourhood character, soil type, block size and individual preferences.
“Twenty thousand plants will be available with two per land holder with proof of ratepayer status.”