Thanks to the efforts of an ALP Net Zero fundraiser for Sydenham, VIC, funds were raised for the planting of 60 native trees in the beautiful Grampians/Gariwerd District of Western Victoria.  These trees will help restore local habitats, provide food and shelter for native wildlife, and contribute to the long-term health of this iconic landscape.

It’s a wonderful example of how community fundraising can have a lasting impact on the environment – turning generosity and teamwork into living, growing forests. We thank Natalie Hutchins and her team for reaching out to support our revegetation projects.

The trees were planted at Grampians/Gariwerd District of Western Victoria, by the Buloke and Northern Grampians Landcare Network (BNGLN). In brief, this network supports 18 local Landcare and environmental groups across the Shires of Buloke and Northern Grampians. Restoration efforts aim to return the region as closely as possible to its original ecological vegetation state.

This landscape, once densely forested, has suffered from waves of deforestation due to mining (1860s), timber harvesting (1920s), agriculture (1930s) and of course bushfires.

Grampians contained more than 30% of the state’s flora with dozens of endemic species, which means they do not grow anywhere else. It is truly amazing when you think about it. It’s a relatively small area to contain that much representation of the state’s flora.

This small rural district is one of the biodiversity hotspots in Victoria, with majestic tree species such as box, ironbark, River Red Gums, Victorian Blue Gum and the iconic Buloke tree (which Red-tailed Cockatoos rely on for food).

Jill Burness | Gariwerd/Grampians Endemic Botanic Gardens

In December 2024, dry lightning ignited multiple fires across the Grampians. By the end of the summer, more than 135,000 hectares of National Park and farmland had been burned. Since then, BNGLN and Parks Victoria, are playing a vital role in several restoration projects in the district. One of the planting sites lies on a former Buloke woodland, a critically endangered habitat that once supported species like the Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, which relies on Buloke seed pods for food. The tree, known for its extremely hard wood and slow growth (up to 100 years to mature), was historically used for firewood and fencing.

Parks Victoria has commenced large-scale recovery efforts, and local Landcare groups such as the Buloke and Northern Grampians Landcare Network (BNGLN) are playing a vital role in environmental restoration. Recovery efforts include:

• Supporting natural regeneration of native plants, many of which are fire-adapted
• Managing soil erosion and minimising land disturbance
• Maintaining water quality in local rivers, creeks, and streams
• Controlling invasive species that threaten native flora
• Assisting native wildlife with nesting boxes and the control of feral predators
• Replanting in sensitive areas
• Establishing long-term recovery strategies, including monitoring and community involvement.

The Grampians/Gerward District is home to the majestic flora of box and ironbark eucalyptus, River Red Gum and Victorian blue gum species. The continued expansion of habitat corridors and revegetation projects like this one will help support the long-term recovery of this precious landscape.

If you would like to know more about sponsoring community tree planting projects through fundraising please contact Colleen at <[email protected]>.

Writer: Colleen B. Filippa

With a background in Environmental Science, Colleen is the Founding Director of Fifteen Trees. In 2009, after 20 years in primary, secondary and tertiary education institutions, Colleen left the classroom to start the company. Fifteen Trees is a social enterprise assisting individuals and companies to reduce their carbon footprint by supporting community groups such as Landcare, schools and environmental networks.