Wojcicki Constructions is a Daylesford construction company specialising in custom home builds. Steven Wojcicki (with over 20 years industry experience) is Director of the company, and works with project manager Yuliya Wojcicki to deliver award-winning, often breathtaking home builds and renovations.

Daylesford is renowned for its natural beauty and restful atmosphere. It’s no surprise that Steven’s carpentry work reflects this aesthetic, and often features beautiful timber accents. Both Steven and  Yuliya take this commitment to and respect for natural materials to its logical next step by implementing strategies to reduce their business’s environmental impact. One of these strategies includes partnering with Fifteen Trees to support community tree planting projects.

Wojcicki Constructions is proud to partner with Fifteen Trees as we are always looking for ways to reduce our environmental footprint and create homes for many of species of plants and animals.

Yuliya Wojcicki | Project Manager | Wojcicki Constructions

– 2023 / Campaspe Valley, VIC / 260 trees –

The trees were planted at Redcastle and Heathcote (Taungurung Country), VIC by members of the Campaspe Valley Landcare Network. The site is significant because it was very depleted having been used for gold mining previously. The district is Ironbark country, and the main trees planted at this site were Sheoaks, Wattles and Melaleuca.  The plants were chosen largely to support endangered species within the area, in particular the pollinating species of native birds and insects.

The She-Oaks are hardy and provide food for Black Cockatoos (endangered) as well as Squirrel and Sugar gliders, goannas and a variety of Honeyeaters, including the (also endangered) Regent Honeyeater.

I would like to sincerely thank the kind souls who contribute to this important program which enables people such as myself to care for country, restore degraded land and soils and provide habitat for future generations of native wildlife.

Christine Wrest-Smith | Member | Campaspe Landcare Network

– 2022 / Brisbane Ranges / 260 trees –

This year, we planted Wojcicki’s trees in the beautiful district of the Brisbane Ranges, VIC. The planting was coordinated by Robert Hall from the local Landcare group. The trees were a mixture of local species of Acacia, Banksia, Bursaria and Eucalyptus and were planted on a Saturday in mid October by of group of local volunteers.

The planting site was on the Geelong-Ballan Road, on northern side of the Brisbane Ranges National Park. On Durdidwarrah Land. The planting group worked with a Land Management Consultant to help develop a plan, with particular emphasis on planting indigenous vegetation. In time, this site will be a thriving native corridor for the local population of koalas, echidnas, reptiles, kangaroos and wombats, as they make their way to and from the National Park nearby.

– 2021 / Elaine / 405 trees –

Doubling the amount of trees planted the year before, Wojcicki have supported the planting of 405 trees in 2021 at Narmbool, a historic pastoral property of 2,000 hectares located at Elaine, just 30 minutes from Ballarat and 90 minutes from Melbourne, on Wathaurong country.

Restoring the land is something we can all take responsibility for and we applaud the support of Wojcicki Construction has given us over the past years. Plantings, which are native to this region, fresh in the ground include Golden Wattle, Silver Banksia, Silver and Black Wattle, and Yarra Gum.

– 2020 / Werribee & Warrnambool / 200 trees –

Wojcicki Constructions aims to plant one tree for each square metre of every new build, starting with an estimate of 100 trees per project. With construction work commencing at Tylden and Korweinguboora, 200 trees have already been planted. The trees went to 2 planting groups:

• West Grow – 150 trees,
• Hopkins Falls Landcare Group – 50 trees.

One hundred and fifty (150) trees went into the ground as part of the Grow West Program around the Werribee Gorge State Park and Lerderderg State Park areas of Victoria.

It has been a quiet year on the landscape change front with only three sites participating in revegetation activities. We even had to cancel our our much-anticipated annual Grow West Community Planting Day, that normally attracts 200-300 volunteers from across the region. Getting the trees in the ground this year then became a family affair.

Despite all the challenges that 2020 has presented, Grow West and its landholders were able to continue contributing to a greener, brighter future for our children and we look forward to organising more plantings next year with our wonderful supporters.

Emma Muir | Coordinator | Grow West Program

 

Another 50 trees were planted down the coast at Warrnambool by the Hopkins Landcare Network. This group is working tirelessly to restore native vegetation to the beautiful areas around the Hopkins Falls and Hopkins River. Planting habitat trees for their local wild koala populations is always a priority.

This year saw our plantings happen in the Covid world which unfortunately changed our usual community gatherings to just family gatherings to get trees planted.

The trees were planted in an area above Hopkins Falls on the riverbanks of the Hopkins River with a continued effort to increase wildlife habitat with focus on trees popular with koala populations. Given our mild winter and early spring rain I’m sure we will have lots of success with trees.

We would like to thank Fifteen Trees who are a delight to work with, always available to assist where necessary. And thank you also to their supporters for their generous contribution of providing trees for our area, we look forward to working with you all into the future.

Jane O’Beirne | President | Hopkins Falls Landcare Group

 

There is a lovely feeling of balance about planting trees at the same time as building a house. They are two versions of home. Both essential for life as we know it, both requiring skill and care to bring them into being. When Wojcicki builds are complete, the trees that we planted for them will be establishing themselves deep in the earth, preparing for long lives of providing habitat, shelter, and food for native creatures.

Thank you Steven and Yuliya Wojcicki for your ongoing support.

Article by Sarah Hart.

Sarah is a self-taught artist whose passions include the stories and experiences of women and narrative driven creative 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.