Despite doing so much for our environment as it stands already, the folks at Performance Membranes contacted us wishing to get behind our tree planting projects and have put their hands in the pockets to fund the planting of 240 native trees per year.

Performance Membranes are a one-stop for Pro Clima systems, products, accessories, education, and installation training. What is a Pro Clima system we hear you asking? We had to investigate also! Pro Clima is …’Australia’s only dedicated distributor of Pro Clima products providing training, education and smart solutions for the future of sustainable builds, including high-performance and Passive House projects’.

So essentially Performance Membranes assist with a wide product range of smart solutions for the future of sustainable builds, including high-performance homes and Passive House projects. These homes are next level impressive!

Impressive too, is that this company really does go above and beyond to ensure cleaner air for all, via tree planting and teaming up with us here at Fifteen Trees in our quest to provide a better future for the next generation via our tree planting projects.

Tea-tree Creek, VIC | 240 trees | 2024

This year, working with Geelong Landcare, we organised the planting of Performance Membranes’ 240 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 Wattle.

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.

Werribee River, VIC | 240 trees | 2023

The planting site for these trees was on the Werribee River at Ballan, VIC (Wadawurrung country). This is an important site in the landscape, with the Werribee River marking the northern boundary. This project will improve connectivity through the site, connecting habitat in the rail reserve at the south of the site to the escarpment planting in the north.

Thirty-two (32) species of plants ranging from herbs and grasses through to large trees were planted. Some of the species included: kangaroo grass, chocolate lily, rock correa, golden wattle, black wattle and manna gum.

This site sits within an Ecological Vegetation Class called Grassy Woodland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain Bioregion. The conservation status of the vegetation community along this whole corridor is endangered, (even though some species are common). This work helps to improve the habitat value of this significant river link through the landscape.

The iconic Platypus is regularly seen in this stretch of the river and gliding above the majestic Wedge-tailed Eagles can be spotted.

The Upper Werribee Catchment Group would like to thank the sponsors of Fifteen Trees that finance the seedlings for projects like ours. Without your support, we wouldn’t be able to have the significant impacts that we do in connecting habitat throughout the upper Werribee catchment.

Lindy MacRaid | Coordinator | Upper Werribee Catchment Group

Devin Grant, part owner of Performance Membranes, has planted trees with us before under Granted Constructions. Check out his trees here. Thank you Devin for your years of support.

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 a 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. Lou founded 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