G.J. Gardner Homes Ararat has been supporting our community tree planting projects since 2013, and in that time, we have planted 3,345 trees in the Ararat, Horsham and Hamilton Districts due to their generous support. That impressive number comes because G.J. Gardner plants 15 native trees for every new home built.

This year Ashley and Sally Heard and their team purchased 540 native trees for the Ararat region (which is on Djab Wurrung country). The trees were planted in July at MokePilly by Platypus Project. Project Platypus is an Incorporated Association established in 1994 as an umbrella body for eleven Landcare Groups in the Upper Wimmera River Catchment.

Project Platypus is a deeply committed and connected Upper Wimmera Landcare group. Their vision is to plant trees to provide habitat for native wildlife and protection of waterways. These particular trees were planted in July, in an area that is being slowly restored back to its original ecosystem – a Redgum forest.

Thank you to Sally and Ashley for helping us support those community groups like Project Platypus who protect and enhance our rural reserves.

Writer: Colleen 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.