Greater Bank volunteers plant first trees of what will be an AELEC forest

ALEC manager Mike Rowland said the new forest would cover a substantial area not just of the AELEC but the entire Northern Inland Centre of Sporting Excellence.

The area is often used as campgrounds during big events, but can also be used as a cross country course. When full-grown the trees will shade competitors and campers, and screen the area from the New England highway.

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But the Australian natives will also spruce up the site, he said.

"It'll look like the proper bushland it started as rather than poor old flogged-out farmland that we've just slowly been developing since we took over," he said.

The trees were among 75,000 donated by the Greater Bank across South East Queensland and regional NSW mark the 75th birthday of the institution.

Branch manager Dwayne Marshall brought his kids along to help out.

"Whenever they get more and they need a hand, we're more than happy to come out and have a go again," he said.

Matilda Marshall said she'd never planted a tree before, but it was a lot better than sleeping in.

"I think I've planted 13 or 14," she said.

Mr Rowland said the effort would be a memorable one for the younger green thumbs.

"We were just chatting with a couple of the kids earlier saying in thirty years' time you'll be able to drive past here and tell your own kids how it was you that planted those huge big trees that are sitting in the paddock right there," he said.

"I think there's a sense of community and a sense of achievement out of that at the same time."

Tree planting started last October, with the job to be completed by May.

Some 2500 trees have been already planted at the site by Tamworth Regional Council workers. It's the first weekend of tree planting for the volunteers.

The trees were among 75,000 donated by the Greater Bank to mark the 75^th birthday of the institution.

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