Hornsby Shire Council is bringing back its Native Plant Giveaways this August, this time turning attention to residents in the Shire’s northern suburbs after a successful run through the south back in March. The shift follows a new approach from Council, which has split the Shire geographically so that different pockets of the community get their turn at the giveaway trays throughout the year.
Northern suburbs eligible for the August event include Arcadia, Asquith, Berrilee, Berowra, Berowra Heights, Berowra Waters, Brooklyn, Canoelands, Cowan, Dangar Island, Fiddletown, Forest Glen, Glenorie, Hornsby, Hornsby Heights, Laughtondale, Maroota, Milsons Passage, Mt Colah, Mt Kuring-gai, Singletons Mill and Wisemans Ferry. Residents from these areas will be able to collect plants over two days, Friday 28 and Saturday 29 August, at Council’s Warada Ngurang Community Nursery in Pennant Hills.
On offer will be a wide selection of grasses, groundcovers, shrubs, climbers and trees of various sizes, all grown on-site by the nursery’s volunteers and staff. Council staff and volunteers will be on hand throughout the giveaway to help residents work out which species will suit their gardens, with information posters detailing growing conditions, mature size, and other features for each plant on offer.
The giveaways have run since 2003 and have distributed tens of thousands of native plants to households across the Shire, cementing their place as a fixture for local gardeners.
Hornsby Shire Mayor Warren Waddell said the program continues to support the Shire’s bushland and biodiversity, pointing to the strong response at March’s southern suburbs event as encouragement to keep the initiative going. He noted that home gardeners have a genuine part to play in protecting native flora and fauna, and that on-site experts are there to guide residents toward plants that will thrive without causing problems down the track.
The August giveaway will be held at Warada Ngurang Community Nursery, 28 Britannia Street, Pennant Hills. Bookings are essential and open at 9am on Friday 31 July. Details and booking information for the event are available at hornsby.nsw.gov.au/npg.
