Arbor Day celebration rooted in community

Ritchie, from Asplundh, braved the drizzle to plant magnolias for Arbor Day.

Ritchie agrees trees are great for our mental and physical wellbeing.

“But I'm in my 50s now," the jovial Asplundh arborist said as he swiped a wedge of compacted soil off his knee.

"I'm not sure they're so good for my back any more.”

Ritchie was probably only partially joking as he took a break from work to get more energy from a flaky sausage roll.

He and Asplundh operations manager Sean had just finished hand digging a deliberately spaced line of five planting holes.

The 400-ishmm deep holes stretched along the east fence at MacGibbon Place. After smoko, they'd be home to five magnolia trees Asplundh donated to commemorate Arbor Day.

Asplundh is an ŌCHT contractor. It's a global company but its local operations are encouraged to have roots in their communities.

“It's important to us that we support our community where we can, which is why we wanted to do this,” Sean explained.

"We try and do something every Arbor Day . . . You can't over-estimate the importance of trees to our communities, to things like mental health, that social aspect, and our environment.

“Donating the trees and our time is just a positive thing that will contribute to our community, and they'll keep contributing for years to come.”

The trees were the first of nine Asplundh donated - and Ritchie and Sean will plant - over the course of Arbor Day.

The pair were due to take another four magnolias to Fletcher Place, where they'd be potted around the boundary, this afternoon. 

The Grandlflora Little Gems will eventually grow to provide a colourful, scented backdrop in their communities. They are tipped to grow to between 4m and 5m high, and to have a spread of 3.5m.

Thanks Asplundh for your generous donation that’ll benefit two ŌCHT communities for years to come!