Eurobodalla Shire Council recently hosted a plant and clothes swap event at the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens. The event, held on National Tree Day and now in its second iteration, brought together community members in a unique blend of environmental stewardship and sustainable living.  

To participate in the plant swap, attendees brought their environmental weeds in a bag to the Council stall and exchanged them for free native plants. This not only helps enrich the local ecosystem with native species but also prevents potential weed outbreaks from spreading into local bushland or farmland, effectively removing seed sources before they could establish themselves.  

The Council has been running plant swaps for over a decade, successfully addressing many weed outbreaks originating from home gardens. These swaps help residents identify invasive weeds and get advice on suitable native alternatives. 

"We sometimes have native plants accidentally brought in, which provides an excellent opportunity to explain their importance for local fauna and habitats," said Emma Patypus, Eurobodalla's Local Landcare Coordinator. 

In addition to promoting native plant growth, the event also featured a clothing swap, allowing attendees to exchange each high-quality clothing item they brought for a ‘new’ piece. This segment not only keeps valuable clothing out of landfills but also provides a sustainable way for people to refresh their wardrobes on a budget.  

The event sparked valuable community conversations about the benefits of plant and clothes swaps, the impact of textile waste and the need for more of these events within the community. Initiatives like this not only strengthen community bonds but also support a circular economy and combine a love for nature with practical, eco-friendly practices. 

The Eurobodalla Shire Council invites interested individuals to join their next session by registering on their website.    

Images supplied by Eurobodalla Shire Council.