Just as sails provide shade and shelter in our homes, schools and public spaces, trees offer natural protection for our communities and environment. Both bring comfort, resilience and beauty to the places we gather. By sponsoring community tree planting projects, Shade ‘n’ Sails Ballarat extends its commitment to creating cooler, greener, and more sustainable spaces – whether that’s through the shade of a carefully designed sail or the canopy of a thriving native tree.

This year we have planted 180 native trees on behalf of Trevor and his team at Ballarat Shade ‘n’ Sails. Three trees for every bag of offcuts collected throughout the course of 2024. These fabric offcuts, that would normally go into landfill, are periodically sent to Melbourne to be re-fashioned into cushions, smaller sails and other items that need durability.

The trees were planted at Scotchmans Lead Reserve in an area between Union Jack Creek and Yarmlok Plain, Napoleons, VIC. On the traditional land of the Wadawurrung People. It is here that the Napoleons and Enfield Landcare Group Inc (NELG) are rehabilitating the riparian zone (the areas of land that border rivers, streams, creeks, gullies, and wetlands) along the Yarrowee and Union Jack Creek.

NELG have been rehabilitating this particular site since 1996. Carrying out duties such as:

• planning on-going revegetation projects,
• fencing off sensitive sites,
• planting native trees, shrubs and grasses,
• re-establishing frog ponds,
• and instigating weed and pest control.

The new bushland is now home to frogs, rakali (native water rat) echidnas, koalas, wallabies and possums, and associated invertebrate life such as dragonflies, bees and insects. The predominate birds are birds of prey which do well at this site, but the increasing diversity of trees and shrubs is helping to increase the bird species number from about 6 (2010) to over 40 (2025). Kangaroos and koalas are also now present.

We are very pleased to have sponsors contributing this work that we have been undertaking for many years. The results are now speaking for themselves, and more people than ever are interested and aware of the importance of protecting and restoring our environment. Financial support is so useful to get things done well and it also gives us moral support – which is very motivating

Jenny Ryle | President | Napoleans Enfield LG

While there is no dominant native flora species (as the area had been stripped through past gold mining and neglect), there is a natural woodland comprising of manna gums and swamp gums with many shrubs and lower layers including native grasses. It is this area that the team from NELG are working towards restoring.

The newly planted trees (eucalyptus, acacias, banksias, hakeas and lomandra) will create shade along the river and provide shelter for fish and even platypus. The tall trees will provide protection from strong winds and eventually will protect the riparian area from the ravages of floods. At present there is a trackway for walkers to see and enjoy the river.

In partnering with Fifteen Trees, Shade ‘n’ Sails is helping ensure that future generations enjoy not only safe and welcoming outdoor areas today, but also healthier ecosystems tomorrow. It’s about creating shade that lasts – fabric overhead and leafy green around us.

Thank you Trevor  for the additional funding for tree guards. These guards help protect the new seedlings and gives them protection from grazers, in particular rabbits and kangaroos. Inside the plastic sleeves, the microclimate created protects the seedlings from harsh UV, drifting sand, frost, and wind. Once the seedlings survive their first summer and get the opportunity to develop a strong taproot, their chances of survival skyrockets.

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: 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.