Sarah Page, the Environmental Education Specialist Teacher at St Francis Xavier Primary School, recently set about planting 300 native tube stock at her home in Yendon, on behalf of Fifteen Trees. It was with great delight that Sarah and her family discovered a native bee hive on their property at Yendon when they took up residency some fifteen years ago. As the years passed, Sarah and her family became more and more enthralled in the fascinating life cycle, routines and beauty of their tiny winged friends who had built themselves a hive within an old hollow tree. In fact, you could say the bees were so charming, they almost seemed like family. Over the years they noticed many old trees were being cleared in their neighborhood, yet no new trees were being planted. There was definitely alarming signs of increased habitat loss in their area. This was upsetting to them, as with each new season, fewer native species of birds and small mammals were to be seen. No longer were koalas grazing high in the tree tops, nor were there as many passing echidnas. The local wallaby population was in turmoil and the ten plus species of birds who’s lovely song would greet them each morning and dwindled to less than half. And of course they noticed the waggle dance of the bees signifying the great distances their little friends had to fly in search of pollen. There was an omen, fifteen years was the time to do something about the problem, and who better to ask than Fifteen Trees! It was time to plant trees, help the bees and increase the biodiversity. So that’s what they have been doing. Together, the Page family made a promise to Mother Earth, and made a pledge to work together from this day forth to help improve biodiversity and habitat growth right on their very own doorstep. To quote the wise Mother Teresa, “If you want to bring happiness to the whole world, go home and love your family.” Working with Fifteen Trees helps in so many ways, on one hand these trees will reduce the carbon footprint of a local business and on the other hand they will provide much needed biodiversity to a local area by increasing habitat for our native wildlife, and of course food for the bees. What a great way to love your family … bees and all! As told by Sarah Page.