Established in 1978 CAVAL is a not-for-profit, member-driven library services consortium based in Melbourne. At CAVAL they aim to facilitate and enhance library services within Australia through strategies for active client engagement and sophisticated services and solutions.  They develop and deliver ‘best of breed library and information solutions’ for stakeholders and support growth and innovation in the library and education communities.

CAVAL annually support our community tree planting projects by purchasing trees from Fifteen Trees.

Site A | Huntly Streamside Reserve, VIC | 45 trees

The trees were planted by Northern Bendigo Landcare (NBL) who held their annual National Tree Day event at the Huntly Streamside Reserve, VIC. This site has been damaged in the past due to gold mining and grazing.

Forty-eight (48) people turned out on National Tree Day to help plant the trees.  One highlight was having students from a nearby Primary School attend with their families.  These students are part of their school’s Green Magpies group of sustainability leaders. They were encouraged to support a community sustainability initiative and gain valuable experience.  The students were extremely keen and enjoyed being involved in practical community action.

Site B | Axe Creek, VIC | 45 trees

The trees were planted at Axe Creek on property Dja Dja Wurrung land, known as djandak. The site has a Trust for Nature covenant on it, to preserve it in perpetuity. The Campaspe River and Mosquito Creek run through the site.

Due to long-term grazing, the understory had been destroyed with very little native grass, native shrubs or flowers remaining. The beautiful big old eucalypts are intact though. Close to the river are the iconic River Red Gums and higher up, away from the river, it is mainly Grey Box, many of which are large and very old with numerous hollows. Three of these trees are registered scar trees.

The project, in simple terms, has been to remove the sheep, progressively eradicate the weeds and introduced grasses and plant indigenous grasses and shrubs in their place. Kangaroo grass, wallaby grass, wattle varieties, Austral indigo, various native daisies, hop bush, hakea and weeping she-oaks are some of the species that have been planted at this site.

The property is blessed with a wide range of wildlife, such as; kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, echidnas, platypus, possums, a wonderful array of birds and reptiles. Some of the more interesting examples are the Tawney Frogmouth, Powerful owl, Azure Kingfisher, Spotted Pardalote, Tree Creeper and Robin Redbreast.

In early September, we began planting the trees that we were supplied to us from sponsors of Fifteen Trees. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this wonderful assistance we have received.

Bill & Jo Morrissey | Members | Axe Creek Landcare

Thank you to Sara Davidsson from CAVAL who contacted Fifteen Trees to organise these trees. To date, we have planted 360 native trees for the consortium. You can find all their trees by typing CAVAL into the Tree Plantings page on the website.

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