In the face of global challenges like climate change it can be so easy to feel overwhelmed. What difference can I make, me, one tiny person? But the thing is – it’s not just you. It’s me too. And her. And him, and them over there, and their friends, and the bus driver, and the salesperson, and old mate down the street, and on and on. It’s us.

We see it very clearly here are Fifteen Trees. Every year, we have hundreds of individuals who purchase small numbers of trees, because that’s what they can do right now. But those small numbers add up to a big deal. Thousands of trees have been planted thanks to small personal gestures of generosity and forward-thinking. First a rustle, then a roar, and finally a forest.

This is the power of acting individually and working collectively. If you think you can’t make an impact, we’re here to tell you you can. Because it’s never just you. It’s all of us, and we’re facing these challenges together.

Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.

Margaret Mead (1901 – 1978)

 

Shout out to the following 21 people who have each purchased 15 trees:

• David Ward who purchased trees for Kris Simms in the UK.
• Laurel Freeland.
• Brendan Doyle.
• Theresa MacDonald who purchased trees for Clare.
• Alastair Page.
• Shirli Kirschner.
• Veronica Farrell.
• John Warren.
• G.J. Gardner Homes VIC/TAS in memory of Maria Rachela Zaia.
• Glen Robinson.
• Warwick Brown.
• Ingrid Brooker.
• Aurora Kurth.
• Sam McColl who has purchased these trees as a wedding gift to Sam Clifton and Shani Cain. They are both such caring people and I wish them all the best for their life together. I hope their love continues to grow as strong as these trees will. 
• Alison Curry.
• Sarah Brennan. A fabulous artist. Find Sarah on Inst at Sarah.B.Artist.
• Jenny Kan.
• Thomas Nurse.
• Germain Briand for Usha’s birthday.
• Kim Fernandes for Maja Eidsor Viken.
• Bronwyn Blaikock, who purchased these trees as a gift for Amadis Lacheta.

Huge gratitude to these 8 individuals who purchased 30 trees:

• Upinder Singh Sidhu.
• Allan Bennett.
• Bronwyn Blaiklock who has purchased these trees as a gift for Ethan and Kira Blaiklock.
• Scott Handsake who has purchased for Gus Balbontin.
• Cathy Maloney.
• Liz Claridge as a wedding gift from a dear friend.
• Richarda who purchased 30 trees on the behalf of her beloved father Andy.
• Mary McIntosh.

And more gratitude to the one who purchased 60 trees:

• Eva Dixon.

The planting of 615 native plants was split across two Victorian sites.

Site One | Skeleton Creek | 405 trees

A section of approximately 300 metres along a boundary fence was prepared and then planting a mix of shielding Casuarina and Eucalypt species, with a few lower level shrubs and grasses. The aim of the planting was to provide visual amenity by shielding the concrete factory on the other side of the fence from view. The boundary fence of the reserve had existing shielding tree plantings, with this year’s planting filling a gap in the older copses.

Site Two | Wyndham Park Primary School | 210 trees

The planting was an element of a program aimed at year 5-6 students run by Zoos Victoria called Love Your Locals.  The group of 10 students, led by a teacher coordinator, reached out to NatureWest for guidance and support.  The school council kindly provided a fenced off area within the school grounds to be set aside as long term project to turn into a native habitat garden. Over the period of 20 weeks, with both at-school lessons and on-line sessions; we covered terms such as biodiversity and native habitat, explored the species that had been planted, and talked about some of the native wildlife that might begin to use the site once the habitat had become established.

Individuals can have a huge impact when working collectively. The evidence is right here. Thirty marvellous individuals have collectively enabled us to plant 615 trees at 2 sites.

You are all eco-rockstars!

Writer; Sarah Hart

Sarah is an artist whose passions include the stories and experiences of women and narrative driven work. Her aim is to delight, to reveal glimpses of everyday beauty and to celebrate flights of the ordinary. Sarah works across a range of media, with an abiding interest in pen and ink, mixed media and the human form. You can find Sarah here.