Ross Morley, Managing Director of G. J. Gardner Homes has been supporting our native environment (through Fifteen Trees) since 2013 and has helped plant 1000’s of trees across Victoria and Tasmania. For every new home built, Fifteen Trees organises the planting of 15 trees in the local district. This year, the project will see over 7,000 trees planted by schools, landcare and various environmental groups. Kris Gill, Danny Breen and Alan Matthewson from G. J. Gardner Homes Macedon are generous supporters of local community groups and their tree planting projects. This year, this trio have purchased 255 trees for Kate Daniel and her regional landcare group. [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]

My family and I live on 4 acres on the outskirts of Woodend. Our east facing block is sloping, 50% cleared and 50% lightly treed, with eucalypts , a few wattles and a bit of bracken but very little understorey. The soil is heavily compacted after 20 years of horses on it. I’ve been a Landcare member for 15 years and our property is a Land for Wildlife block. It is important to us that we protect the few patches of remnant vegetation we’ve got, rehabilitate the more degraded parts as well as create some new areas of habitat through developing understorey and infill plantings. The trees and shrubs we’ve planted – eucalyptus, wattle, cassinia, hakea, banskia, callistemon, she-oaks – should cope in our mix of dry and damp spots and have mainly been chosen because they will improve the biodiversity mix and provide either habitat, nectar or seeds for small birds. Putting the plants in at home has been harder than any Landcare project I’ve ever worked on, requiring a pickaxe, deep mulching and bucket-only watering. The plantings have been scattered over a dozen sites, in various paddocks, doing different duties most times. I’ve also tried to plant them in positions to slow run-off and topsoil loss. We’ve planted a big stand of she-oaks partly because of their beautiful whispering noise in a breeze but also hope that eventually it will lure the black cockatoos down to their cones. We’re very grateful to GJ. Gardner Macedon for the gift of trees, which have gone into the ground in this beautiful part of the Macedon Ranges. A positive contribution indeed. Kate Daniels | Woodend Landcare Facilitator

As you can see, the trees have gone to a wonderful home in Woodend. Thank you Kris, Danny and Alan for your help in re-vegetating this beautiful part of Victoria. Slainte – Colleen[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]