Scott Doughty and Judy Corcoran from G.J. Gardner Homes Mornington are longtime supporters of local community groups and their tree planting projects. This year Scott, Judy and their team purchased 180 native trees (and tree guards) for the Sunshine Reserve at Mount Martha, VIC. This brings their tree tally to 2,475! They have been supporting us since 2016.

On National Tree Day (last Sunday in July) the Sunshine Reserve Conservation Group along with 75 volunteers (ranging in age from 2 to 90), and the team from G.J Gardner planted 1,000 native trees, shrubs and grasses of which 190 were generously donated by Judy and Scott.

Sunshine Reserve (Ballan Ballan Country) at Mt Martha, VIC is an important remnant bushland that supports local biodiversity and helps connect habitat corridors. It’s also a well-loved community space, and planting here strengthens both the environment and local stewardship.

We’re incredibly grateful to our generous sponsors for supporting this year’s planting. Your contribution helps restore vital bushland, strengthen biodiversity, and inspire a deeper connection between community and country. Thank you for helping us grow something truly lasting.

Angie Fly, Co-Ordinator Sunshine Reserve Conservation

The plants were a mixture of 20 species, including; Hop Goodenia, Common Apple-berry, Sweet Wattle, Common Correa, Coast Beard-heath, Silver Banksia, Drooping Sheoak, Coast Manna-gum, Swamp Gum and Black Sheoak.

Over time, these plants will improve local biodiversity by providing food and shelter for native birds, insects, and animals. They will also help stabilise soil, reduce erosion, support natural water filtration, and restore important layers of the original bushland ecosystem. Some of the native birds re-establishing themselves in the reserve include Superb Fairy-wrens, Grey Fantails, Crimson and Eastern Rosellas, Yellow Robin, Pardalotes, Thornbills, Tawny Frogmouths, Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos, Southern Boobook Owls and Powerful Owls.

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 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.

Thank you to Scott and Judy for your continued support since 2016.

Thank you also 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, 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.