Rohan Smith, Paul Delgallo and Darren Beckwith-Smith, co-directors from G. J. Gardner Homes Geelong are generous supporters of local community groups and their tree planting projects. This year, the trio purchased 615 trees (plus guards) for their local area on the Bellarine Peninsula, VIC.

G.J. Gardner prides itself on being a practical, hands-on family affair, and in past years, staff have happily gone out with their local community to plant their trees themselves. Local Landcare groups determine the best tree species for the site. The seedlings themselves are grown by local independent nurseries who have collected seed from the region. The sites that have been planted in the past have included nature reserves, parklands, roadsides, school grounds, riverbanks & rural properties.

Gardner Homes Geelong are very proud to have supported Fifteen Trees for the past 10 years which has resulted in over 11,000 trees being planted that will benefit the community and the planet.

Given our industry produces CO2 emissions with the numerous products that go into building our beautiful homes, it’s great to know that we are also assisting with the reduction of these emissions by supporting Fifteen Trees and the fantastic work that they do.

Darryn Beckwith-Smith | General Manager | G.J. Gardner Homes Geelong

G.J. Gardner’s core business is building homes. Safe, secure places for families to grow and thrive for many years to come. We love that alongside this, G.J. Gardner Homes is planting forests, which is very much the same thing; safe, secure places for fauna and flora to grow and thrive for many years to come.

This year, working with Geelong Landcare, we organised the planting of GJG’s 615 native trees on Wadawurrung Country along Tea Tree Creek at Barrabool. This area was once dominated by an Eucalypt and Drooping Sheoak woodlands with a grassy understory. However, over the years, the area has been largely cleared and taken over by introduced pasture grasses. The aim of the planting group is to restore the site to past biomes with the planting of  species such as indigenous Manna Gums, Swamp Gums, narrow-leaf Peppermints, Drooping Sheoaks and Black Wattles.

Enhancing what native vegetation still remains and providing critically important animal habitat will see an improvement in both the local fauna species as well as those species (e.g. kangaroos, echidnas) using this area as a corridor or stepping stones between native reserves.

There is a large diversity of fauna in the area, with animals such as Growling Grass Frogs, Platypus and Rakali.

Geelong Landcare Network was so thrilled to be given plants by Fifteen Trees. We thank all their supporters, and in particular G.J. Gardner Homes Geelong. Our aim is to restore and enhance our natural environment and your contribution has directly contributed to this aim. Thank you once again.

Bronwyn Merritt | Facilitator | Geelong Landcare Network.

Many thanks to Rohan and Paul for their continued support over the past 10 years. A decade of giving back to their local community and environment.

Here at Fifteen Trees, we are always happy to discuss about the best way to incorporate CSR into your organisation. It’s a lovely way to connect with the broader community and reduce some of your company’s environmental impacts. If interested, 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.