G.J. Gardner Homes has been supporting our community tree planting projects since 2013, and in that time, we have planted over 75,000 trees across Victoria and Tasmania due to their generous support. That impressive number comes because G.J. Gardner plants 15 native trees for every home it builds in Tasmania and Victoria.

Ashley and Sally Heard from G.J. Gardner Homes Ararat are generous supporters of local community groups, and their tree planting projects. To date they have planted over 2,355 trees. This year Ashley, Sally and their team purchased 450 native plants trees for the Ararat region which is on Djab Wurrung country and planted out by Platypus Project.

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. To keep the local connection, all trees are planted near the offices managing the builds, between 200-900 trees for every district. Local Landcare groups determine the best tree species for the site. The seedlings themselves are often grown by local independent nurseries who have collected seed from the region by hand (with the proper licensing, of course). The sites that have been planted have included nature reserves, parklands, roadsides, school grounds, riverbanks & rural properties.

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.

Project Platypus, a deeply committed and connected Upper Wimmera Landcare group, planted the trees at Great Western in the region. Their vision is to plant trees to provide habitat for native wildlife and protection of waterways.

“Our purpose is to support and empower the community to improve the environmental health of the Upper Wimmera Catchment while maintaining and improving productivity.

These trees from Ashley and Sally from G.J. Gardner Homes Ararat support our on-ground initiatives that improve the land, water, and biodiversity for future generations.“

Glenn Brooks-MacMillan | Facilitator | Project Platypus

Thomas Mitchell first surveyed The Wimmera region in 1836, located in west-central Victoria, and named it for an Aboriginal term meaning boomerang, throwing stick, or spear thrower. The area was settled in the 1860s.

It is home to the Spotted Pardalote, and the Black-winged Stilt, amongst many other bird species, who add to the rich flavour of wildlife in the region.

If you are interested in how your business and Fifteen Trees could work together, contact us at <[email protected]> and ask for a no obligation proposal or check out our COMPANY page for more info.

Writer

Lou Ridsdale is a big fan of words and has been our Comms Manager since 2019.

She is a big-minded green thumb, Earth Lover, big-hearted nature freak plus a savvy media and horticulture expert, who passionately believe that everyone is capable of leading 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