Food security is something that concerns us all. Needless to say, it goes hand in hand with responsible environmental stewardship. One company that takes both issues very seriously is Skretting, a sustainability-award-winning world leader in the manufacture and supply of aquaculture feed.

Skretting’s primary focus is on its research and development of sustainable aquaculture feed, but it also places a high value on the saying, ‘think global, act local’. This year, we organised the planting of 1,118 native trees, shrubs and grasses in Tasmania/Lutruwita across 3 planting sites. This takes their overall tree tally to well over 11,000 plants since our partnership began in 2013.

Site 1 | Milford, TAS | 500 trees

The trees were planted at Milford, TAS on the traditional lands of the Tyerrernotepanner People who lived in the vicinity of Campbelltown. The tribe of 60–80 people, followed a seasonal cycle of foraging in North Oyster Bay in winter, conducting kangaroo hunts around Campbell Town in spring, and collecting and trading ochre in the Western Tiers in the summer months.

We are very grateful for the financial support provided this year. It has assisted us with planting 500 trees in a very cold windswept area that was calling out for plants. These trees will make life much more pleasant for wildlife and humans too – thank you.

Jan Hamilton | Member | Land Conservatory TAS

On a sunny but cold morning in spring, nine (9) people attended the planting day. Volunteers were comprised of family, friends and neighbours who worked in teams of 2 allowing people to interact more deeply over the course of the morning. The plants were a mixture of wattles (Silver, Black, Midlands, Blackwood), eucalypts (Swamp Gum, Black Swamp Gum, White Gum), sheoaks, banksias, bottlebrushes, hakeas (Beaked, Tiny Devil), paperbarks and tea trees.

The native environment will be enhanced by the recreation of the endemic vegetation, which over time will provide habitat for native birds, bugs, reptiles and mammals, these trees will also provide shelter from the chilling NW winds of Midland Tasmania. Some of the wildlife who call this area home include quolls, devils, possums, Forester Kangaroos, potoroos, wallaby, snakes, sea eagles, wedge-tailed eagles, and a host of native birds such as Black swans, hawks, kookaburra, cockatoos, rosellas, wattle birds and honey eaters.

Site 2 | Dodges Ferry, TAS | 118 trees

Dodges Ferry Primary School planted out the native trees, shrubs and grasses under their Grow and Learn Program at the school.  Approximately 130 students and staff, joined in with the planting, mulching and watering. The kids take pride in their school grounds and shared community area (the planting site is close to the beach and community walking track).

The planting site itself is near an adjacent wetland area, and right next to the beach. The school is slowly returning pasture back to bush and native habitat for wetland animals. It is also reducing erosion, beautifying the area and making habitat for native wildlife such as Blue tongue lizards, bandicoots, a plethora of native birds, wetland insects and native frogs.

Thank you so much for supporting the students at Dodges Ferry in revegetating the environment around their school. Not only is this a unique and valued experience for them, but it also has the added environmental benefits which connects them to their immediate environment and gives them a sense of pride and connection. This is such a valuable program for them to have the privilege to take part in. This project would not be possible without your support. And the flow on effect is to the community of beach users and walkers of the community track.

Sonja Ralph | Grow and Learn Teacher | Dodges Ferry Primary School

The area consists of coastal vegetation and the species planted (native grasses, blue gums, salt bush, wattles, tea trees, casuarinas and banksias) complemented this. Ralph Dodge, one of the original settlers in the area had a farm in this area and ferried people across the water to the other side of the Coal River mouth. Hence the name Dodges Ferry.

Site 3 | Central Highlands, TAS | 500 trees

The Tasmanian Midlands (Tyerrernotepanner Country) is one of Australia’s most significant biodiversity hotspots, a landscape of temperate native grasslands and grassy woodlands that have become increasingly rare across the country. For thousands of years, palawa/pakana people managed this country through seasonal movement and cultural burning. European settlement from the early 1800s transformed much of it into grazing land, making the Midlands one of Tasmania’s oldest agricultural regions. Today, the work of restoring what was lost is being taken up by a new generation of custodians, including farmers, conservationists, students and volunteers who believe that productive agriculture and biodiversity can genuinely work side by side.

Twenty-eight (28) people gathered for the planting day. A diverse group that included students from the Big Picture School, volunteers from Nipaluna Nursery, the Tasmanian Land Conservancy, Landcare Tasmania and the landholders themselves.

The species planted reflect the ecological diversity of the Midlands and they included; eucalypts, wattles, Dolly Bush, Hop Bush, Black Peppermint, Cabbage Gum, Hakea, Tea Tree and Bottlebrush. In a landscape characterised by native temperate grasslands dominated by Kangaroo Grass and Wallaby Grass, and grassy woodlands of White Gum, Black Gum and Black Peppermint, these plantings will help restore the layered habitat structure that local wildlife depends on.

Tree planting is about far more than restoring the landscape, it’s about bringing people together to care for the places we all value. Thank you for your generous support for the farmers, students, volunteers and conservation partners who are helping create healthier habitat for Tasmania’s unique wildlife while inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.

Your contribution will leave a legacy that will grow for decades to come.

Nel Smit | President | Nipaluna Community Nursery

Tasmania is known for its wildlife. And the wildlife here is extraordinary. This is Tasmania, after all! Bennett’s wallabies and Tasmanian pademelons move through the property. Common wombats and echidnas are regular visitors. The Eastern Quoll (endangered and all but gone from mainland Australia) still survives in parts of Tasmania, including here. And the Tasmanian Devil, is still found across much of the island, including the Midlands. The new plantings will provide food, shelter and nesting sites for all of these animals, as well as for the woodland and grassland birds that depend on this ecosystem such as the Superb Fairy-wrens, Grey Fantails, Yellow-rumped Thornbills and Grey Shrike-thrushes.

The Tasmanian Midlands experiences one of the island’s driest climates, with cold winters and low annual rainfall. Shelterbelts and riparian plantings like those at Tunbridge are particularly important here. This is community tree planting at its most purposeful – restoring native habitat, supporting regenerative farming, educating the next generation and strengthening the connections between people and the land they share.

We thank the team at Skretting, TAS 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.

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.