Andrew Womersley from G.J. Gardner Homes Warrnambool is a generous supporter of local community groups. This year Andrew and his team purchased 450 native trees for the Hopkins Falls Landcare Group to plant on their behalf. 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.

To keep the local connection, all these trees were planted near the Warrnambool office. Local Landcare groups determined the best tree species for the site, and the seedlings themselves are  grown by local independent nurseries who have collected seed from the region by hand.

This year, the native trees were planted by Jane O’Beirne and the Hopkins Falls Landcare Group at Purnim, VIC to provide habitat for native wildlife.

In June 2022, local landowners David & Jan Woolly planted 450 trees provided by G.J. Gardner Warrnambool as part of an effort to create habitat for wildlife in the area.

The trees were sourced from local nursery Cudgee Creek Native Nursery and propagated from locally collected seed.  Timing was perfect after a dry autumn with good rainfall to give trees a great start.

The mix of trees had many species needed for the local koala population that wander through the area.  David & Jan are very thankful for G.J. Gardner Homes and Fifteen Trees for providing trees which made their project possible.

Jane O’Beirne | President | Hopkins Falls Landcare Group

It has been a stellar year for planting thanks to all the wonderful rain we’ve had and we consider ourselves incredibly lucky to have our amazing planting groups who are out planting trees for the planet. Planting season this year will last until well into spring.

As we move towards our 10th year of sponsorship with G.J. Gardner Homes Warrnambool, we thank them for their continued and generous support of our tree planting projects.

Writers; Colleen Filippa and Lou Ridsdale.

Colleen is the Founding Director of Fifteen Trees. Her background is in environmental education. In 2009, after 20 years in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions, Colleen left the classroom to start Fifteen Trees. Fifteen Trees is a social enterprise (putting people and planet first) that assists individuals and companies to reduce their carbon footprint through the support of community groups such as Landcare, environmental networks and friends groups.

Lou is a big fan of words and big-hearted nature freak who passionately believes that everyone can lead a more nourishing and sustainable life. Her passion for education + communication being the most empowering tool for change is reflected in her setting up her own digital/comms agency Hey Hoe Let’s Grow Socials. She also 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