More than 200 Christmas trees from across our State Forests have been donated to a range of charity and community organisations in the lead up to the festive season, Forests NSW Chief Executive Officer Nick Roberts said. 

“The NSW Government, through Forests NSW, has donated around 200 Christmas trees to a range of worthy recipients which will help brighten Christmas for children, people with disabilities and families,” Mr Roberts said. 

“Donating Christmas trees has become a popular annual event and it’s just one way Forests NSW is giving back to the communities which support them, especially in regional areas. 

“Our donations of trees are often sold to raise vital funds for worthwhile community projects, for example the Rotary Club of Orange has received over 50 Christmas trees to sell at a local market to assist in raising funds for other community projects throughout the year, the Legacy Club of Wagga Wagga will also receive Christmas trees. 

“Two large Christmas trees from Sunny Corner State Forest have also been sent to Government House in Sydney. 

“We are fortunate to have 530 State forests in NSW and the Radiata pine is collected from some of the highest elevation pine growing regions in the southern hemisphere and are cut when they are five or six years old.” 

Christmas trees have been given to:

• Community organisations – Rotary, Legacy, Rural Fire Brigades and churches. 
• Bega – 60 trees have been donated to Tulgeen Disability Services based at Bega.  The trees are sold to help fundraise for various programs. Selling the trees also encourages people with a disability to participate in the process. 
• Orange - More than 50 Christmas trees from Forests NSW have been donated to the Rotary Club of Orange to sell at a local market to assist in raising funds for other community projects throughout the year.
• Schools – Christmas trees have been donated to various schools, including Lithgow preschool and Bibbenluke Public School. 
• Wagga Wagga - Christmas trees have also been donated to the Legacy Club of Wagga Wagga. 

Meanwhile the public is being reminded not to steal pine trees for Christmas to decorate their homes or gardens. 

There is approximately 209,000 hectares of pine plantation across NSW.

“While the young trees may look like nice Christmas ornaments, they are planted to provide timber resources for our State, to build our homes, schools and other important infrastructure,” Mr Roberts said. 

“Forests NSW staff has been patrolling extensively this season to remind people that it is illegal to remove any vegetation from a State Forest or roadside area. 

“Illegal harvest of pine trees can also be a serious safety risk. 

“People caught removing trees from our State Forests could face a maximum fine of $5,500 and or six months in prison. 

“On average our pine seedlings are grown for about 30 years before they are harvested for building houses and making timber products. 

“Families looking for a nice Christmas tree should purchase one from their local nursery or specialist wholesaler.” 

Key pine plantations in NSW are:  

• Macquarie – Bathurst, Orange, Lithgow and Oberon
• Hume - Tumut, Batlow and Tumbarumba 
• Monaro - Bombala, Moss Vale and Tallaganda
• Northern Region – Walcha 

Forests NSW has invested $14 million this year to establish over 12 million pine trees across NSW to continue supplying NSW with sustainable timber. Our forest industry also supports more than 20,000 jobs. 

“Please do the right thing this holiday season, stay safe and support a key primary industry in our state by not illegally removing Christmas trees,” Mr Roberts said.

Media contact: Lyndall Hilder 6391 3686 or 0409 383 423