Hotels for Trees is a charity that contributes directly to a greener hotel world. A hotel world in which one new tree is planted each time a hotel guest chooses to skip the daily room cleaning. Hotels for Trees has been active in Australia since 2023. Globally, the organisation has planted more than 450,000 trees  since establishment in 2021.

Sometimes there are really simple things everyone can do to reduce their carbon footprint. When staying at a hotel, choosing to skip the room cleaning and having a tree planted instead, is one of those things. Less cleaning means less emissions, and by planting a tree we increase the planet’s capacity to deal with climate change. We guarantee that trees donated by Australian hotels are planted in Australia, and we are very excited to now work with Fifteen Trees to ensure a true local impact for our partner hotels in Victoria.

Hugo van Roermund | Manager | Hotels for Trees Australia

The reserve (which is on traditional Boonerwrung land), is home to a wide variety of native flora and fauna. It plays a crucial role in preserving the biodiversity of the Mornington Peninsula, providing habitat for many native species. It is also a critical canopy Bio-link adjoining Fairbairn Reserve, Mount Martha Park, Hearn Creek and Forest Drive. With key remnant areas, its conservation and habitat values are recognised as important reminders of original landscapes and how they once were.

A mixture of native species planted on the day included; Hop Goodenia, Small-flower Flax-lily, Common Apple-berry, Sweet Wattle, Common Tussock-grass, Common Correa, Spiny-headed Mat-rush, Purple Flag, Tall Sedge, Snowy Daisy-bush, Sweet Bursaria, Soft Spear-grass, Native Raspberry, Silver Banksia, Drooping Sheoak, Black Sheoak, Coastal Manna Gum, Manna Gum, Swamp Gum and Narrow-leaved Peppermint (which koala’s love)!

Over time, these trees will provide essential habitats for various native wildlife, including birds, mammals, and insects. Some of the larger animals can be found in the reserve include the Koala, Eastern Grey Kangaroo, Common Brushtail Possum, Sugar Glider and Swamp Wallaby. Bird species include the Superb Fairy-wren, Eastern Rosella, Laughing Kookaburra, Grey Fantail, New Holland Honeyeater, Magpie, White-plumed Honeyeater, Crimson Rosella, Rainbow Lorikeet and the Black Cockatoo,

These trees will help establish a wildlife corridor. Bio-links connect separate populations of wildlife, allowing animals to move between different areas and access resources, find mates, and maintain genetic diversity.

Thank you Hotels for Trees for your support in helping us purchase trees, shrubs, and grasses for Sunshine Reserve. Your contribution is invaluable in helping us strengthen our canopy corridors allowing fauna and flora to thrive, we just couldn’t do it without you.

Angie Fly | Co-Ordinator | Sunshine Reserve Conservation Group

If, on your travels, you visit a hotel who have not (yet) joined Hotels for Trees, please tell them what a great initiative it is and ask them to contact Hugo at [email protected] to find out more.

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.