South Western Sydney PHN is a not-for-profit health organisation dedicated to supporting general practitioners, practice nurses and other primary health providers. Covering seven local government areas from Bankstown to Bowral, NSW, over 1 million people are in the SWSPHN catchment.

This year, we planted 27 native trees on the behalf of SWSPHN with the Hunter Region Landcare Network to help reinstate patches of connected native vegetation.

Prior to colonisation, a significant portion of the Maitland City Council area was covered in Dry Rainforest species. Over the course of the past 200 years, the lowland sections of this district have been almost completely cleared. This project will help reconnect Maitland to a broad biodiversity network and improve biodiversity within the rainforest.

Some of the species planted included; wattles (Green and Maiden), Bottlebrushes, River Oak, Eucalyptus (River Red Gum, Forest Red Gum), Lilly Pilly, Native Frangipanni, Tea Trees, Paperbarks (Flax-leaved, Broad-leaved), Bush Cherry and Pittosporums (Yellow and Sweet).

Many species of native birds utilise the Dry Rainforest remnants including the Regent Bowerbird, Cuckoo, Fig-bird, pigeons, honeyeaters and small birds.

Thank you to sponsors of Fifteen Trees for their generous support of our project, which allowed us to purchase locally indigenous plants for this important rainforest revegetation patch. The community enjoyed working together to achieve a wonderful result.

Stacy Mail | Coordinator | Lower Hunter Landcare

We also thank SWSPHN for funding the 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.