[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]Somerton Park.
The 200 shrubs and grasses planted at the Surf Life Saving Club at Somerton were a collaboration between two enterprises – a company who designs and manufactures automotive components called Toyoda Gosei and a community group that provides support for people with intellectual disabilities called MINDA
It all started last year, when Lynton Modra from Toyoda Gosei contacted Fifteen Trees to discuss having one tree planted on the behalf of each of their 250 employees. Those trees were planted at St Monica’s Primary School in Wodonga, NSW.
[/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]One year on at St Monica’s PS.
This year, Lynton wanted the trees to be planted a little closer to the company’s head office in Edwardston, SA so that employees could join in with the planting day. That’s when MINDA became involved. They were keen to have a tree planting day but needed help funding the plants. The two organisations were very quickly introduced.
[/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”]The hard working volunteers.
With numerous emails and phone calls, the plants were sourced and ordered, a location found and a day chosen. And earlier this month, 200 native shrubs and grasses were planted at the Surf Life Saving Club at Somerton Park. In this case, it was smaller species (rather than trees) that were planted. There was a special need on this site to choose species that would provide biodiversity and dune stabilization and also be in keeping with the original vegetation.
Thank you to Lynton Modra from Toyoda Gosei and Karl Sampson from MINDA.
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According to Sustainability Victoria, the average Australian lifestyle produces 15,000kg of carbon per year. If that sounds like a lot, it is! Over its lifetime, a tree can collect and store 268kg. This means, we each need to plant 58 trees per year to bring our individual carbon production down to zero. A little tricky for most of us to do in our own backyards, and this is where ‘A Subscription for the Planet’ comes in.
For hotels, embracing sustainability can strengthen brand loyalty, enhance their reputation, and help differentiate them in a competitive market. In this way, sustainable initiatives are not just good for the planet – they also make strong business sense, creating a win-win for hotels, their guests, and the communities and ecosystems they support.
There’s something quietly powerful about a person who decides, on their own, to do something good for the planet. No fanfare, no corporate mandate – just a simple choice to put a few trees in the ground. When hundreds of individuals make that same choice, something remarkable happens. Native forests are restored, wildlife corridors are rebuilt, and community groups across Australia get to do the work they love. So if you’ve ever purchased trees through Fifteen Trees, thank you.
