"TIN has evolved from a close knit, grass roots community group into a major environmental services provider, with several incarnations along the way" (2003)
Trees in Newcastle (TIN) is a local native plant nursery, volunteer and education centre and bush regeneration provider and managed by a volunteer committee with a ‘potted’ history.
Trees In Newcastle arose out of a public meeting in 1989, to discuss ways of redressing Newcastle’s tree deficiency. About 30 or so people resolved that a group should be established to plant and inspire others to plant more trees in the Newcastle region.
From 1990-92 one staff member coordinated the volunteers and the street planting projects. By 1994 twelve staff was employed and TIN boasted the region’s most experienced LEAP training providers. Providing training and employment opportunities became a core principle of TIN.
The demise of the LEAP programme triggered a need to refocus the organisations direction.
"We would grow local plants collected from local seeds (the idea seemed a bit weird at first and very risky), and that’s what we did. We were a pioneering group of people." Nursery Manager Pete 1997
By 1997 Trees in Newcastle became a self sustaining community driven organisation by adopting a business-like structure and professional approach. "We are confident that we can continue to be a community driven group, and that our commercial enterprises do not compromise this community ownership" stated Joe Thompson, Manager at the time.
The 2003 review stated TIN is a broad organisation with a core volunteer component responsible for collecting, sorting and growing a huge range of local plants, a training program for volunteers related to nursery activities, a Biodiversity In Schools program, commercial nursery services collecting and growing to order huge numbers of plants for large scale planting programmes for local councils and Landcare groups, commercial bush regeneration teams and all profits directed into the Biodiversity in Schools program.
In 2005 TIN had 24 paid positions of various tenures with a commitment to employing volunteers that have obtained the necessary qualifications. Volunteers provide approximately 1,200 hours/month of enthusiasm, energy and dedication to the environment and are the heart of TIN.
TIN continues evolve to address the changing needs of the environment and the people who want to contribute to its protection and preservation. Trees in Newcastle is a shining example of what can happen when a community seed is planted, occasionally repotted, nurtured and given the room to grow. The core principle of TIN is its commitment to the environment and the people who care about it.