When Fast Times, Australia’s premier skateboard retailer got in touch with us to fund the planting of 1,355 trees, we were pretty excited to partner with them. With 24 stores across Australia, they have always been highly committed to enviro causes, e.g. replacing single use plastic bags to reusable ones. Planting trees is a new focus for them, and we wholly encourage them in that pursuit and thank them for getting behind us to help future-proof the planet in our own unique way.

We’ve found that most skaters we know, as well as surfers, snowboarders, and skiers come to think of it, tend to be very motivated to protect nature and really encourage their skater pals to also be involved in some way. It is generally driven by a deep love of cleaner oceans, snowfields and rubbish-free parks and other open spaces for skating. That’s what happens when you are outdoors so much – you connect with nature, along with your sport, in a deeper level.

‘The environmental benefits were a key driver in our community initiatives, but we were also excited about the opportunity to implement a dedicated program that would allow us to support causes close to our hearts. By partnering with a variety of organisations it also allows us to react to immediate need in the community’. Fast Times.

We planted the trees across 3 sites;  a skate park at Dodges Ferry TAS, at Nulla Vale VIC (105 trees) and on the Mornington Peninsula VIC (1,000 trees).

Site A | 250 trees | Dodges Ferry, TAS

Dodges Ferry Primary School in Tasmania (lutruwita) planted the trees at 2 sites, with some trees going along the school loop track and some being planted at Flora Park which surrounds the Dodges Ferry Skate Park. The perfect home for Fast Times trees.

The area around the loop track which the school planted out is a grassy area which adjoins wetlands and the coast. The area along the loop track is used by members of the community to walk along and exercise their dogs.

The Flora Park is open dry sclerophyll forest which is currently being managed by the landcare group who is revegetating and removing weeds from the area. The skate park is used by families and youth, and it also has a walking track through it.

Lots of shore birds use the area, as well as parrots and little superb fairy wrens have started to come back in this area as a result of encouraging the flowering undergrowth to regrow.

The kids genuinely love this activity and feel like they are directly contributing to the betterment of the world through planting trees. Both groups were actively engaged in getting their hands dirty and the plants in the ground! Many thanks for your support.

Sonja Ralph | Environmental Teacher | Dodges Ferry Primary School

Site B | 105 trees | Nulla Vale, VIC

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, we have embarked on a native revegetation program in order to restore the island to it’s 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. The island being returned to it’s natural state will allow it to be used as a recreational area and asset to the township.

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

Site C | 1,000 trees | Mornington Peninsula, VIC

At the last site on the Mornington Peninsula, the traditional land of the Bunurong / Boon Wurrung people of the Kulin Nations, we planted another 1,000 trees with the Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation (MPKC) as part of their Somers Koala Habitat Project (Coolart to Cerberus Biolink). This is a fabulous project to support. With over 70% of landholders confirming their intent to participate in this revegetation project, it is also backed by Mornington Peninsula Shire, Parks Victoria and the Department of Defence. And now with sponsors such as Fifteen Trees and Fast Times, this revegetation project has grown by leaps and bounds.

Here’s a few reasons why this project is so important:

• Recent research from Deakin University suggests that the koala population has been negatively impacted by the highly fragmented nature of habitat on the Mornington Peninsula,
• By providing a wildlife corridor biolink it will allow animals including koalas to move safely, to reach vital food resources and help maintain viable populations,
• Without this, koala populations will inevitably continue to decline, become isolated and may face local extinction.

Over the years Fast Times have admirably partnered with many charities to make a difference in their local communities, including bushfire and flood relief. As well as being very active with donations to Spinifex Skateboards, Starlight Foundation, Northern Rivers Community Gateway, and the Type 1 Foundation (supporting kids and their families recently diagnosed with diabetes). We are very thankful that they have added Fifteen Trees to their list of worthwhile organisations to support.

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 – Lou Ridsdale

Lou a green thumb, Earth Lover, big-hearted nature freak, plus a savvy media and horticulture expert, who passionately believe that everyone can lead a more nourishing and sustainable life. Lou 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