The building industry sometimes gets a bad reputation for not caring for the planet, but we here at Fifteen Trees find the opposite occurs, with construction being one of our top industry of supporters in tree planting projects.

Our ‘up the road’ neighbours here in Ballarat, Macneil Group, is one such supporter, who over the past 10 years has enabled us to plant 1,290 trees thanks to their consideration for the earth’s resources.

MacNeil Group was founded by Director’s Paul McCuskey and Jason Neil, and they offer a complete range of project management services, including commercial, industrial and residential design and construction projects. Macneil has amassed an impressive portfolio of high-quality projects and high profile clients.

This year, Macneil’s trees (150) have gone to Hopetoun Park, Bacchus Marsh, VIC (Woiwurrung and Wathaurong territories of the Kulin Nation).

Macneil’s trees were part of a large planting day held by Grow West. On the day, a total of 3,700 native trees, shrubs and grasses were planted. Animals that will benefit from this planting include; platypus, and numerous species of birds, frogs, reptiles, insects, possums, small mammals and macropods. The trees and shrubs were a mixture of 30 different indigenous species, including; Acacias (Lightwood, Silver Wattle, Black Wattle, Blackwood, Golden Wattle), Eucalyptus (River Red Gum, Yellow Gum, Yellow Box) and Weeping Sheoak.

The Grow West Community Planting Day, was a wonderful success. With a beautiful location on the Werribee River in Hopetoun Park, and a glorious sunny day, over 160 wonderful volunteers planted more than 3,700 trees, shrubs and grasses. It is so fantastic to have community members, who care about the environment, come together to improve habitat and increase connectivity in the landscape. Days like this could not happen without the amazing support of organisations such as the Macneil Group.

Lindy MacRaild | Coordinator | Grow West Team

Thank you to Paul and Jason for your continued support of our tree planting projects since 2012 – a decade of trees!

If you would like to know more about sponsoring community tree planting projects and how we can assist you in becoming a more sustainable business, please contact Colleen at <[email protected]>.

Writer: Lou Ridsdale.

Lou 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 can lead a more nourishing and sustainable life. Her passion for education + communication being the most empowering tool for change is reflected as her role as Founder of 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.