In addition to a community planting site at Woodberry Wetland on Sunday, Maitland City Council will provide schools across the local government area with native seedlings to mark the annual event.

All Saints College, St Peter's Campus, took delivery of its plants yesterday in the third year the school has participated.

Students will plant the trees on Friday as part of their agricultural studies.

Maitland Mayor Peter Blackmore said the supply of trees was a good way to educate students.

"It's teaching the students about how to treat the environment," he said.

National Tree Day is held across Australia and is co-ordinated through Planet Ark.

More than 247,000 volunteers celebrated National Tree Day last year by planting more than 2.2million native trees and shrubs at 3340 sites.

The event will return to the city this year with a community planting site at Woodberry Wetland, Thornton, near the Somerset Drive and Sandalwood Terrace junction.

Activities will start at 9.30am.

Council development and environment manager David Simm said National Tree Day was an important event on the city's environmental calendar.

"Work carried out on National Tree Day and a range of other community working bees are extremely important in the overall success of the council's Greening Plan," he said.

"Planting seedlings helps to provide food and shelter for local wildlife, increases biodiversity and reverses the habitat loss that threatens much of our wildlife.

"Tree planting therefore has a very serious purpose."

Mr Simm said people should wear enclosed footwear, a hat and sunscreen on the day.

"Should you have a favourite planting tool, bring it along too. We will have plenty of seedlings for people to work with," he said.