Essential Flavours does exactly what the name suggests – it creates flavours! Blending the precision of science with the creativity of art, the team can craft just about any flavour imaginable, whether you want it in liquid or powder form. From timeless classics like chocolate to exotic spices and every fruit under the sun, they’ve got your taste buds covered. And they don’t do things by halves. Essential Flavours products are enjoyed across the entire Asia-Pacific region.

As well as looking after our tastebuds, Essential Flavours is also  looking after our planet. Since August 2020, they have partnered with Fifteen Trees, committing to the purchase of 160 native trees every month to support community led tree planting projects. That commitment has taken root! To date, over 17,000 trees have been planted across Australia on their behalf, helping restore biodiversity and give back to the land that supports us all.

Site 1 | Wallis Creek, Hunter Valley, NSW | 600 trees

Wallis Creek in the Hunter Valley runs through mixed farming country before joining the Hunter River. The creek is home to something rare – huge remnant rainforest trees that have survived for centuries. These trees the last of their kind in this part of the landscape, and the Hunter Rainforest Revival Project is determined to make sure they’re protected in the decades to come.

Over three volunteer days, a mix of local community members and staff from NGM Group’s corporate offices in Newcastle gathered at Wallis Creek to plant along the riparian corridor.  For those unfamiliar with the term, riparian zones are the living edges of our waterways, they are among the most ecologically important habitat in the Australian landscape.

We really appreciate the sponsorship that has made this revegetation site at Wallis Creek possible. This site is a crucial link in the chain of Dry Rainforest habitat across the Hunter – one of the rarest and most threatened ecosystems in New South Wales. Without the support of sponsors, projects like this simply wouldn’t happen. Every tree planted here brings us one step closer to reconnecting the fragmented patches of rainforest that remain, and giving the wildlife that depends on them a genuine future in this landscape.

Stacy Mail | Lower Hunter Landcare Coordinator | HRLN

The species planted reflect the diversity and ambition of the project – River Oak, Swamp Oak, Cabbage Gum, River Red Gum, Flooded Gum, Swamp Mahogany, Forest Red Gum, Flax-leaved Paperbark, Prickly-leaved Tea Tree, Native Frangipanni, Soft Corkwood and Willow-leaved Bottlebrush. Together, these native trees and shrubs will establish a critical habitat link between existing rainforest patches across the Local Government Area and the Lower Hunter. A new biodiversity corridor created so that birds, pollinators and wildlife can move through safely as the landscape slowly reconnects.

And those birds and pollinators matter enormously. As the planting matures and begins to flower and fruit, it will attract the kind of wildlife that spreads seed, helping to expand local habitats naturally over time. The project’s mascot, the magnificent Regent Bowerbird (pictured below), is the species they’re most hoping to entice.

Site 2 | Westgate Park, Melbourne, VIC | 360 trees

Westgate Biodiversity is a not-for-profit organisation located at the base of one of Melbourne’s most iconic landmarks and busiest gateways to the city – the Westgate Bridge. Nestled beneath this urban landmark, the group is working to create a thriving pocket of bushland that provides both sanctuary for wildlife and a green escape for people.

This community-based organisation plays a vital role in the west of Melbourne. Not only do they grow and sell locally indigenous plants to support home gardeners, schools, and revegetation projects, but they are also passionately restoring Westgate Park. Their vision is to transform what was once a degraded and industrial area into a natural, bush-like haven, filled with diverse plant species that will flourish for decades to come.

Recently, a wide variety of native trees and shrubs have been planted at the site, including: wattles (Heath, Golden, Lightwood and Coastal), sheoaks (Black, Swamp and Green), saltbushes (Grey and Marsh), correas (White, Smooth and Common) and eucalyptus (River Red Gum, Yello Gum, Ironbark, Swamp Gum and Manna Gum).

This impressive diversity of plantings will help create a rich and resilient ecosystem. As the species flower and fruit at different times of the year, they will provide a continuous supply of food and shelter for local wildlife – from birds and insects to small mammals. Over time, these plantings will not only enhance the biodiversity of Westgate Park but also ensure it becomes a vibrant, living landscape where both people and nature can thrive side by side.

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 becoming a more sustainable business, please contact Colleen at <[email protected]>.

Writer: Colleen B. Filippa

With a background in Environmental Science (Melbourne Uni), Colleen is the Founding Director of Fifteen Trees. In 2009, after 20 years in 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.