Port Macquarie Koala Hospital has 25,000 trees to give away as a part of its 2019 Koala Food Tree program.
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Schools, individuals and landholders across the Port Macquarie-Hastings community is invited to take part.
Last year’s giveaway saw 10,000 trees distributed in only 10 days to interested people in the community and to organisations.
More than 150 trees went to a property in Redbank, another 70 trees to Bagnoo and Huntingdon Primary School, west of Wauchope, took 100 trees and dispersed them to students.
Steve Withnall, Koala Hospital habitat coordinator is inviting everyone from Kempsey to Kew to get on board.
“I couldn’t believe it. One day we were wondering how we’d find room for 10,000 trees and a few days later, they were almost all gone," Mr Withnall said of last year's give away.
This year’s program, a joint initiative between the Koala Hospital and NSW Forestry Corporation, has been expanded to 25,000 trees with four different species to suit different soil and habitat locations.
Tallow wood, grey gum, forest red gum and swamp mahogany will be available from the Koala Hospital in Macquarie Nature Reserve, Lord Street, Port Macquarie from March 7.
“Loss of habitat is a major reason for our koalas becoming sick and dying. If this program goes some way to helping reduce habitat loss, the Koala Hospital will have achieved a major goal," Mr Withnall said.
“Interested people, many returning for the second year in a row, have registered to take trees this year. Over 4,000 trees have already been assigned and the list of people registering to take trees is growing daily.”
A tree planting guide is also available full of information on how to plant the trees and care for them to help them survive.
If you, or someone you know, has some spare, open space for tree planting, please contact the Koala Hospital on 6584 1522 to register.
Trees will be available after March 7 and the give away will go through into April or until all the trees are gone.
