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 450 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 12,000 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’s trees were planted along the banks of two of Geelong’s most important waterways – the Barwon and the Moorabool Rivers, local Landcare groups have been busy bringing life back into the landscape. Throughout the course of the winter and spring, members of the Leigh District Landcare Group joined forces with the Maude, Meredith and District Landcare Group to plant hundreds of native trees and shrubs across two key sites on Wadawurrung Country. The teams worked together, planting a beautiful mix of River Red Gums, Yellow Gums, Silky Hakea and several varieties of Bottlebrush (Lemon, Silver, River, Crimson and Weeping).

At the Barwon River site, the focus was on creating an indigenous vegetation corridor to reconnect fragmented patches of habitat. Until recently, the area was dominated by introduced pasture weeds with only a few scattered native species hanging on. By reintroducing a diverse understory, volunteers are helping to rebuild a more resilient ecosystem that will once again provide food, shelter and safe passage for local wildlife.

Over at the Moorabool River, the groundwork had already been laid. Following extensive weed removal, volunteers returned to replant the native understory. Their efforts are helping to stabilise the soil, reduce erosion, and restore the natural diversity that once thrived along the riverbanks. With time, these new plantings will grow into a healthy, layered habitat that supports everything from insects and small birds to larger mammals.

The rivers already support an impressive variety of native fauna. Platypus have been spotted gliding through the calm waters, while the endangered Growling Grass Frog calls parts of the Moorabool River home. Birds, koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, echidnas and rakali also rely on these habitats for food and shelter. As the new plantings mature, they’ll provide even more safe spaces for these animals to thrive.

The Geelong Landcare Network was delighted to receive the plants generously provided by Fifteen Trees. As caretakers of the land, we deeply value opportunities to restore and enhance our natural environments by creating vital habitats for local wildlife. We extend our sincere thanks to Fifteen Trees and GJ Gardner Homes Geelong for their continued support in helping us care for and strengthen our region’s ecosystems.

Bronwyn Merritt | Facilitator | Geelong Landcare

Landcare groups across the district are helping to restore the health and resilience of the region’s waterways and woodlands. Their work ensures that the Barwon and Moorabool Rivers will continue to sustain life for generations to come.

We also thank the team at GJG Geelong 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.

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.