Water is life. Humans, animals, and plant-life alike, depend upon it for survival. Australia is one of the most arid continents on planet earth and often we lose sight of that when turning on a tap. It is easy to forget what a precious commodity it is. And what a finely tuned process it takes to capture and store water safely for communities to drink and utilise for all kinds of daily functions.

Trees have an important symbiotic relationship with water. They diminish the process of soil erosion by slowing rain as it falls to the Earth and assists the soil in absorbing it. Trees also prevent soil from eroding into our waterways, reduce stormwater runoff, and lessen flood damage. And serve as natural filters to protect our streams, rivers and lakes.

For over 150 years Central Highlands Water has been providing drinking water, sewerage, trade waste and recycled water services to customers around the Central Highlands region in Victoria.

Central Highlands Water do a huge amount of community work, and actively promote sustainability within this region. As the grateful recipients of a community grant this year to fund the planting of 1,000 native trees to be planted in the Ballarat region in Napoleons, Ross Creek and at the new Ballarat showgrounds, we worked with the team at Central Highlands Water to provide more trees around their catchment area to provide better quality water.

Napoleons site:

“We knew a week out there was going to be a wintry blast on our proposed planting date but cancelling was never an option. We had worked hard to create a series of linked ponds which then seeps water into the Yarrowee River at Scotchman’s Lead between Buninyong and Napoleons, south of Ballarat.  Over 130 mls of rain had helped enormously in changing a set of muddy scrapes into a beautiful suite of ponds. So, we had the planting levels for the wetlands plants and we had to move. 

 

We are indebted to Fifteen Trees for buying us 500 specialised plants and to Central Highland Water for sponsoring these purchases. Matt Pywell’s from Ballarat Wild Plants’s knowledge of where to plant what was invaluable, as was his suggestion to put in a jute mat to hold the very waterlogged dam walls together. 

 

This was a social planting at the Franklins Bridge reserve and we provided hot pumpkin and cauliflower soup around a blazing fire and even a makeshift tarp in the trees to keep the rain off. Thanks to all our sponsors but especially our intrepid planters. The results will be wonderful so do visit, the frogs already agree.”

 

Jenni Ryle | Coordinator | Napoleons Enfield Landcare Group

Ross Creek site:

Woady Yaloak Primary School, Ross Creek Campus will benefit for years to come, with the planting of 500 native trees providing shade and habitat for many animals.

 

 

“The area required some preparation to remove weeds and so a very successful day’s planting was carried out on National Schools Tree Day.

 

It was very wet underfoot and the crew from Damascus Secondary College did a great job making holes, planting over 200 trees and grasses and making sure each one was protected from the rabbits and kangaroos that visit.

 

The primary students will continue the project when Covid conditions permit. Thank you to Fifteen Trees and CHW for the wonderful plants to restore our wetland.”

Rosemary Barnett | President | Ross Creek Landcare

Showgrounds site:

On Sunday 12th September a small group of Ballarat Agricultural & Pastoral Society  volunteers gathered at the site of the future Ballarat Showgrounds and Events Precinct to plant 200 native tube stock donated through Fifteen Trees and CHW.

 

“The little native trees were planted along the fence boundary. In time, these trees will provide habitat for our native wildlife and shade for all those who come to the Showgrounds for connection to their community, entertainment, and education.

 

Thank you to CHW for your support.”

 

Elizabeth von Beek |President | Ballarat Agricultural & Pastoral Society

If you are interested in how your business and Fifteen Trees could work together, contact Lou at <[email protected]> and ask for a no obligation proposal or check out our COMPANY page for more info.

Writer

Lou Ridsdale is a big fan of words and has been our Comms Manager since 2019.

She is a big-minded green thumb, Earth Lover, big-hearted nature freak plus a savvy media and horticulture expert, who passionately believe that everyone is capable of leading a more nourishing and sustainable life. Her passion for education + communication being the most empowering tool for change is reflected in her setting up her own digital/comms agency Hey Hoe Let’s Grow Socials. She also founded Food Is Free Inc. a unique grassroots food security platform specialising in food security education. She fell in love with trees after reading The Magic Faraway Tree as a child.

You can find Lou here