CERES is an award-winning not-for-profit sustainability centre located on Wurundjeri land, by the banks of the Merri Creek in Brunswick. It’s a rare Melbourne schoolchild who hasn’t enjoyed an excursion or outing to CERES, or been involved in one of its wide range of education programs.

CERES has a broad, multi-faceted reach, with an overall mission to maintain a practical conversation about how we can live well together in a sustainable way. As one small part of this, it encourages schools to offset their CERES excursion travel emissions by contributing to the purchase of two trees per excursion – and many do. From this small gesture of mindfulness on the part of students and their teachers, a living, breathing change can be created hundreds of kilometres away. And this is the message that sustainable ethical businesses and their not-for-profit partners, like CERES, want to get across – no one is tackling climate change on their own.

Semester One / Nulla Vale, VIC / 112 trees

The site of the planting was on the Island in Mollison Creek at Pyalong (traditional land of the Taungurung and Wurundjeri Aboriginal people) by the Nulla Vale Landcare Group. Species consisted of a mixture of Red Gum, Swamp Gum, Grey Box, Manna Gum, Yellow Box and Black Wood.

The Landcare group has engaged in a program of regenerating the area in and around the island in Mollison creek in Pyalong. The island had become overgrown with blackberries, gorse and thistles to the extent that it was inaccessible. Having removed the weeds, including blackberries up to two metres high, they have embarked on a native revegetation program in order to restore the island to its native condition. Ongoing weeding will be undertaken until the native vegetation has reached a mature state that will naturally reduce and control the weed invasion. Slowly, the island is being returned to its natural state thanks to the teachers who purchase trees when they book their classes into CERES for an excursion.

The creek and island is inhabited by a range of water birds including Ducks, Blue Cranes and water fowl. Most of the Central Victorian bird life inhabit the area including Cockatoos, Crimson Rosellas, Corellas and a number of Wrens.

We would like to thank Fifteen Trees and their supporters for contributing to our effort to begin the process of healing this spectacular piece of land. The trees provided will help to protect the few old trees that remain on this land, land that has been used for grazing for many years. These trees are better preserved if they have an ecology of smaller supportive trees and bushes around them, along with some young replacement trees that will one day grow to a similar scale. A rich and diverse ecology around these old trees, helps bring back the wildlife and the insects that provide a far more protective environment.

We thank you for your interest and generosity.

James Legge | President | NV&PWLC

Semester Two | Glendaruel Creek, VIC | 100 trees

The project at Glendaruel began three years ago as a collaboration between neighbours who shared a common vision – to rehabilitate the degraded Glendaruel Creek and restore it to a thriving natural corridor. By working together across property boundaries, these landholders have ensured that a much greater stretch of creek can be revegetated, creating a continuous green ribbon of habitat. This cooperative effort has not only transformed the landscape but also built a strong sense of community among those involved.

Each year, a small but dedicated group of between five and ten people gather to continue the work. Over time, the annual planting days have become more than just environmental action – they are social occasions, building a connection over a shared commitment to care for country.

A wide variety of native plants have been chosen to bring biodiversity back to the creek system. Larger trees such as River Red Gums, Swamp Gums and Manna Gums now stand alongside smaller shrubs and groundcovers, creating a layered habitat. Over time, these trees will play a vital role in stabilising the creek banks against erosion, provide shelter from wind, and offer essential food and habitat for local wildlife.

Already, the benefits are visible. Local birdlife is thriving, with species such as magpies, galahs, rosellas, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, wattlebirds, wrens and honeyeaters frequently sighted along the waterway. Each new planting strengthens this ecosystem.

Many thanks for your generosity. You are helping rehabilitate a degraded waterway that will have lasting and positive impacts on the surrounding environment, particularly by way or erosion control and habitat for local fauna.

Lachlan Andrews | Consulting Arborist | Glendaruel Creek Revegetation Project

Thank you to all the schools who chipped in to purchase 2 trees, your generous contribution is helping to complete beautiful projects such as this one. Since 2014, we have planted 2,030 trees on the behalf of CERES and their visiting schools. To find all their trees, type CERES into the ‘search box’ on the Fifteen Trees 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 organisation please contact Colleen at <[email protected]>.

Writer: Colleen Filippa

Colleen is the Founding Director of Fifteen Trees. Her background is in environmental education. In 2009, after 20 years in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, Colleen left the classroom to start Fifteen Trees. Fifteen Trees is a social enterprise (putting people and planet first) that assists individuals and companies to reduce their carbon footprint through the support of community groups such as Landcare, environmental networks and friends groups.