With a number of distances to entice everyone off the couch, the Ballarat Marathon is gearing up to be a great event. Runners (and walkers) can choose from five distances from a full marathon (42.195km), half marathon (21.1km), a wheel chair half marathon plus a 10km, 5km and a mile race. All events are starting and finishing at the Town Hall, Sturt St, Ballarat.

The 2026 event will take place over the weekend of 24-26 April and registrations are now open.

The Ballarat Marathon takes pride in their commitment to the environment, and the 2026 event hosts a number of ways to reduce their carbon footprint including:

• water stations along the path to cut down on plastics,
• limiting promo material,
• use of compostable cups and other eco products,
• an electric lead car, and …
•  their biggest sustainable commitment is to partnering with us to plant 50 (tbc) native plants in the local district.

This planting took place at Scotchmans Lead Reserve, in an area between Union Jack Creek and Yarmlok Plain, Napoleons, VIC on the traditional lands of the Wadawurrung People. Here, the Napoleons and Enfield Landcare Group Inc. (NELG) are rehabilitating the riparian zone (the areas of land that border rivers, streams, creeks, gullies, and wetlands) along the Yarrowee and Union Jack Creek.

NELG has been restoring this site since 1996, undertaking activities such as:
• planning ongoing revegetation projects,
• fencing off sensitive areas,
• planting native trees, shrubs, and grasses,
• re-establishing frog ponds, and
• implementing weed and pest control.

Thanks to their efforts, the emerging bushland now supports a thriving community of wildlife, including frogs, rakali (native water rats), echidnas, koalas, wallabies, and possums, as well as countless invertebrates such as dragonflies, bees, and other insects. Birds of prey are the most common avian visitors, but as vegetation diversity increases, bird species have grown from around six in 2010 to more than forty in 2025. Kangaroos and koalas are also now regular inhabitants of the reserve.

We are very pleased to have sponsors contributing to this work, that we have undertaken for many years. The results are now speaking for themselves, and more people than ever are interested and aware of the importance of protecting and restoring our environment. Financial support is so useful to get things done well and it also represents moral support – which is very motivating

Jenny Ryle | President | Napoleans Enfield Landcare Group Inc.

While there is no single dominant native flora species, the area was heavily degraded through past gold mining and neglect, a natural woodland of manna gums and swamp gums is returning. Beneath the canopy, native shrubs and grasses are steadily re-establishing, helping to restore the site’s original ecological balance.

The newly planted trees (including eucalypts, acacias, banksias and hakeas) will provide shade along the creek, create shelter for fish and platypus, and protect the riparian zone from erosion and flood damage. As the canopy matures, it will also offer shelter from strong winds and enhance the overall resilience of the landscape. A trackway now runs alongside the creek, allowing visitors to walk, observe, and enjoy this beautiful natural restoration in progress.

We also thank the team for the additional funding for tree guards. These guards help protect the new seedlings and gives them protection from grazers, in particular rabbits and kangaroos. Inside the plastic sleeves, the microclimate created protects the seedlings from harsh UV, drifting sand, frost, and wind. Once the seedlings survive their first summer and get the opportunity to develop a strong taproot, their chances of survival skyrockets.

If you would like to know more about sponsoring community tree planting projects and how we can assist you in running a sustainable event, 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.