When it comes to it, Otto Timber are timber experts. The family run, South Australian based outfit are passionate about supporting sustainability, and only stock with FSC and/or PEFC certification.

Teaming up with us at Fifteen Trees to purchase two new trees for every sale, they know how crucial it is to plant trees local to the area, and to address the high cost to our planet that climate change is placing.

At Otto Timber we are not only passionate about timber, but we are also passionate about sustainability, taking care of our environment and ensuring the future of our industry. Since we benefit from our environment through the beautiful timbers we get, we like to give back to our environment through supporting causes like Fifteen Trees. By contributing to tree planting efforts such as this, we can ensure that our environment is cared for and that we will be provided with beautiful trees to enjoy for generations to come.

Nathan Otto | Owner | Otto Timber

Victor Harbour, SA |  50 trees | 2024

This year, we planted Otto’s 50 native trees with the newly formed Biodiversity Victor Harbour on the South Coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula in SA on the banks of the Hindmarsh River Estuary. The trees were a mixture of native trees and shrubs such as Kangaroo Thorn, Drooping Sheoak, Gold Dust Wattle, Silver Banksia, Paperbark, Blue Gum and Chaffy Saw Sedge. The plants selected, were chosen to provide feed (flowers and seeds) and protection for the native birds, reptiles, insects and mammals that live in the area.

As the areas planted are public lands, Biodiversity Victor Harbour work closely with the local council in the planning and delivery of the planting projects. In addition to the plantings, both groups are heavily involved in weed management from garden escapees to the wrong species of native species planted in the past.

Part of the program includes replanting of coastal areas between the beach proper and sand dunes to provide shelter and cover for the Hooded Plover during breeding. The Hooded Plover is considered endangered, with eggs and chicks having a low survival success rate from dogs being allowed uncontrolled on beaches and predation from  foxes, feral cats etc.

I am delighted to advise we have lobbied our local council and they have agreed to assist with building a community hub plus work collaboratively with us to expand our activities to influencing domestic and rural property owners to review their properties and adopt planting of local indigenous species, whether as gardens or whole scale biodiversity projects.

Supporters from Fifteen Trees helped with this successful grant, as the Council could see that we already had backers and we were already making a difference in our small part of the world.

Mark Richards | Coordinator | Biodiversity Victor Harbour.

Hindmarsh, SA |  200 trees | 2023

Thanks to Nathan and his team, Friends of Hindmarsh River Estuary planted a mixture of species indigenous to the district, and grown from locally collected seeds. Species included; Golden wattle, Seaberry saltbush, Banksia, Kangaroo thorn, Drooping sheoak, Manna Gums and Swamp Paperbacks. The native trees and shrubs were planted at several locations along the Hindmarsh River Estuary.

The planting will provide protective nesting vegetation for the threatened Hooded Plover and species such as Crested Shrike Tit, Black-chinned Honeyeater and Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos.

Many thanks. Your support is invaluable in assisting our group to improve the ecological environment of a the much-loved Hindmarsh River in SA.

We now have a series of signs along the estuary, inviting the public to download the Birdlife Australia Birdata app and participate in surveys.

Mark Richards | Co-convenor  | Friends of Hindmarsh River Estuary

Slatey Creek, VIC | 194 trees | 2022

Otto Timber trees were planted at Slaty Creek, VIC. The trees were a mix of purposefully selected plants to complement the birdlife, insects, and other creatures who call The Grampians their home. They were selected to survive both the cold winters and dry summers, the mountainous terrain experiences. The trees will grow to varying heights (tall and understory) to ensure a variety of habitats for the local wildlife (including some of the bird species shown below).

We are thankful for the expertise of the Buloke and Northern Grampians Landcare Network in their support in helping to plant these trees. Here’s an interview, we recently conducted with Andrew Borg, coordinator of this network.

Buloke, VIC | 100 trees | 2022

The trees will add to the amazingly diverse landscape consisting of gorge environs, steep rocky walls famous for rock-climbing, deep valleys, and undulating hills. They will provide homes and fodder for many species including the extensive bird life found there. Given it is a famous area for bushwalking, you’ll often find many avid bird watchers (twitchers) hiding out on the trails, binoculars in hand and taking in the immense bird song. Grampians birdlife is vast and the many winged wonders you may come across include parrots (Galah, Crimson Rosella, Musk Lorikeet, Rainbow Lorikeet and Blue-winged Parrot), and cockatoos (Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Long-Billed Corella, Little Corella, Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoo, even the endangered Red-Tailed Black Cockatoo).

We are only too pleased to work with organisations like Otto Timber when they feel as passionate about our planet as we do.

If you are also interested in how your business and Fifteen Trees could work together, 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