Fail to plan and you plant to fail

Tree planting is not a good industry to be in if you're myopic.

Trees are one of those classic images of endurance. In ancient cultures, they symbolise wisdom, integrity.

One of the greatest joys of my work is meeting people of wisdom and integrity. They're not just wondering what the impact of their work will be in 6 weeks, 6 months or even 6 years. They're thinking 60 years down the track. They plant today with a long view.

I visited a site this morning which reflected this beautifully. In this particular Sydney council you have some people who really care about the long-term outcomes of their work. And the way they plant reflects that. Every tree is carefully located, goes in with care, and receives the appropriate follow-up treatment.

And the results show: nearly 100% survival, vibrant growth, and, over time, transformation of the local environment.

Alongside this careful, wise work, was the work of another group of planters. The difference was stark: trees were thrown into the ground everywhere, poorly planted, and slow to perform. Losses, I was told, have been of the order of 60-70%. Ouch.

When we plant what has the potential to grow into something majestic (which our grandchildren will climb in), our work calls for nothing less than the wisdom and integrity of good planning.