One Tree Per Child encourages children to plant trees for DoSomething Day

For DoSomething Day on July 19, people are encouraged to visit their local garden centre and choose a tree to plant at home with their children.

Plant a tree with your children on DoSomething Day.

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PLANTING one tree per child does not seem like a difficult task at all.

For DoSomething Day on July 19, people are encouraged to visit their local gardening centre and choose a fruit seed or native seedling to plant at home with their children.

Children will enjoy getting their hands dirty on the day and in years to come will be able to watch their tiny plant grow much taller than them.

Do Something Day founder Jon Dee with his daughter Estelle and Olivia Newton John.

The initiative – One Tree Per Child – was founded by entertainer Olivia Newton-John and environmentalist Jon Dee with the support of NewsLocal and Quest Newspapers with the aim that every student is to plant a tree or shrub before they leave primary leave.

Mr Dee said the planting of a tree was often a child’s first act of volunteering in their community.

“When a child plants a tree or a shrub, it doesn’t just help the environment and wildlife but can also have a really positive impact on the child and their community,” Mr Dee said.

“This DoSomething Day we’re encouraging mums, dads and grandparents to get in the garden and plant a tree with their kids.

“Planting a tree with your child is one of the best things you can ever do with them. Kids love planting and as they grow, so do their tree.”

Planting a tree is often the first acto of volunteering for many children in their communities.

DoSomething Day is Australia’s biggest celebration of volunteering in our communities, recognising the extraordinary contributions made by everyday locals.

It seeks to inspire people to make a difference and give back by volunteering, making a donation or carrying out a simple random act of kindness.

So far, more than 200,000 trees have been planted since One Tree Per Child was launched in Australia in 2015.

The initiative is now running the tree planting program in nine other countries including England, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, Mali, The Netherlands and South Sudan.

“Planting a tree with a child teaches them a wonderful lesson that they can do something positive for the environment,” Newton-John said.

Jon Dee plants trees with school studnets.

“In years to come, the children who plant a tree will be able to look back and say that is my tree - I really made a difference.

“Society benefits when young children get out, get their hands in the earth, and plant trees. Planting trees and shrubs is a great way for kids to connect to the environment and their community. Every child should do it.”

Jon Dee with daughter Estelle and BBC TV star and Grand Designs Presenter Kevin McCloud.

Ambassador Kevin McCloud, from Grand Designs, said it was important to teach children tree planting skills from a young age to encourage an interest in nature and wildlife.

“One Tree Per Child strengthens a child’s relationship with nature, place and the environment,” he said.

“That is a relationship that grows as the tree grows.”

Schools and councils are also invited to support the One Tree Per Child campaign.

For more details, visit onetreeperchild.com

WHAT IS DO SOMETHING DAY?

Do Something Day on July 19 is Australia’s biggest celebration of volunteering in our communities, recognising the extraordinary contributions made by everyday locals. It seeks to inspire people to make a difference and give back by volunteering, making a donation or carrying out a simple random act of kindness.

HOW DO I GET INVOLVED?

There are endless ways you can help others - and you don’t need to wait until Dosomething Day to start. However, as July 19 is the focal point of this celebration, it would be great to turn your attention to it on that day. Let the “kind-o-miser” generate a kind deed sugestion for you to do. Try our Do Something Day Quiz which will help match you with a charity that reflects your ideals.

ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Tweet, Instagram or Facebook a picture that captures the spirit of kindness and generosity on Do Something Day - and use the hashtags #dosomethingday and #giveyourbest. It could be a picture of a volunteers at charity you are already involved with. It could be a picture acknowleding someone in your community who selflessly works for others. It could be a snap of the nice person who serves your coffee every day with a smile. so many ways to to acknowledge the kindness in our community.