We love it when businesses take us literally. Like the Macneil Group, who purchases 15 trees for each vehicle in its fleet. For those new to us, our name – Fifteen Trees – comes from a carbon reducing calculation. The combined emissions from running a regular car for one year can be reduced by planting 15 trees. If this seems like a lot of trees … it is. Cars are polluters, there are no two ways about it. The Macneil Group’s decision to link its tree planting to its fleet, recognises that there are ongoing environmental costs to growth.

We have been planting native trees for Macneil Group since 2012 and to date have now planted 1,440 trees on their behalf.

This year, working with Geelong Landcare, we organised the planting of Macneil Group’s 150 native trees on Wadawurrung Country along Tea Tree Creek at Barrabool. This area was once dominated by an Eucalypt and Drooping Sheoak woodlands with a grassy understory. However, over the years, the area has been largely cleared and taken over by introduced pasture grasses. The aim of the planting group is to restore the site to past biomes with the planting of  species such as indigenous Manna Gums, Swamp Gums, narrow-leaf Peppermints, Drooping Sheoaks and Black Wattles.

Enhancing what native vegetation still remains and providing critically important animal habitat will see an improvement in both the local fauna species as well as those species (e.g. kangaroos, echidnas) using this area as a corridor or stepping stones between native reserves. There is a large diversity of fauna in the area, with animals such as Growling Grass Frogs, Platypus and Rakali.

Geelong Landcare Network was so thrilled to be given plants for this project. We thank all our supporters. Our aim is to restore and enhance our natural environment and your contribution has directly contributed to this aim. Thank you once again.

Bronwyn Merritt | Facilitator | Geelong Landcare Network.

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.