News

Site News

Launch of Landcare's Helping Hands

Land for Wildlife (LFW) property owners are into conservation and revegetation but they are often alone in their endeavours. Once a planting is finished they can be overwhelmed by maintenance and weed problems. Landcare's helping hands aims to help landowners with projects that are too big for the individual to handle and too small for contractors. We also advise on weed management, suggest contractors and assist with grants.

Landcare's river restoration hits the press.

Press Coverage. Southern Highlands Landcare Network led by Ian Royd's has been work diligently for decades to restore the riparian zone along the Wingecarribee River. More recently Ian has organised two huge planting across two properties. Read more about this work in the projects section of this website.

Agroforestry in Action: The Inaugural NSW Tree Conference

In an era where sustainability and conservation are paramount, the inaugural NSW Tree Conference, held in partnership with Greening Bathurst, Central Tablelands Local Land Services, and the Central Tablelands Regional Landcare Network, marked a significant milestone in integrating forestry with agricultural systems. This pioneering conference underscored the invaluable role of trees as an alternative crop under the theme, "Natural Capital: Trees as an Alternative Crop," spotlighting agroforestry's crucial role in sustainable farming's future.

Read out latest e-Newsletter (Late Summer 2024)

Read our latest e-Newsletter to find up about our upcoming events (including a catch-up to celebrate National Eucalyptus Day), watch an ABC Landline story featuring one of our River Red Gum restoration sites, get an update on our orchid conservation project, and find out why why the detection of Rakali e-DNA at Broke is good news, and more.

Fire ready workshop 17 March Yass

Prepare with fire-smart design! Explore fire impacts on ecology, scientific insights, plant flammability and learn to prepare and recover - a People Led Project. Sunday 17 March from 9-3pm at Yass Community Centre - look on YAN facebook for more details.

Junior Landcare - Exeter Public School

Southern Highlands Landcare Network are working with teacher Wade, Lindsay the general assistant and a group of year 2-3 students to create a butterfly garden outside their class room. While the concept of weeding was a bit of challenge the students loved mulching, finding worms and other invertebrates. The highlight of the day was finding some frog eggs. Don't worry we left them undisturbed and moved to another area. We will be finding the best way forward to ensure we don't disturb frog habitat.

Mid Lachlan Landcare Growing the Grazing Revolution

Mid Lachlan Landcare, has been at the forefront of transforming agricultural practices with its ambitious 'Growing the Grazing Revolution' (GGR) project for over a decade. This initiative aims to revolutionise the way local farmers approach grazing management, enhancing both environmental sustainability and agricultural productivity.

Maitland Landcare Incorporated - Rutherford Site

Sunday 3rd March 2024, 10.30 - 12.30. Come and join in the launch of our new Landcare site. We'll have a tour of our site and tree planting demonstration followed by Clean Up Australia Day activities. We will meet at the north end of Tannant Ave Reserve, Rutherford. Bring your gloves, hat, sunscreen, water, longsleeved shirt and trousers, and sturdy footwear. Maybe some mossie spray too! For more information contact us at maitlandlandcare@gmail.com or call Allan Thompson on 0422066693.

Maitland Landcare Inc - Bolwarra Site

The Bolwarra Landcare site was established in 2022, at the John Wilkinson Sports Complex, Bolwarra Heights. The group meets on the fourth Sunday of each month, from 9.00am to 11.30am, to help establish and regenerate an area of bushland at the sports complex. Part of the site adjoins the Bolwarra Lagoon. For more information about our Bolwarra site or our other sites at East Maitland and Rutherford, contact maitlandlandcare@gmail.com

Maitland Landcare Incorporated - Rutherford Site

Since 2020, local residents have been caring for a small recreational reserve off Tannant Avenue and St Fagans Parade, Rutherford. For more information about the Rutherford site or our other Maitland sites at East Maitland and Bolwarra, contact maitlandlandcare@gmail.com

Maitland Landcare Incorporated - East Maitland Site

This bushland site between Kimberly Close and Durban Crescent in East Maitland contains 12 hectares of Lower Hunter Spotted Gum Ironbark Forest, which is considered an endangered ecological community. Landcare activities here aim to involve the local community in bush regeneration works consisting of weeding and plantings where appropriate. Meetings and working bees are now underway, starting 19 November 2023. You can follow us on our Facebook Page East Maitland Landcare. For more information on the East Maitland site or our other Maitland sites at Rutherford and Bolwarra contact us at maitlandlandcare@gmail.com

2024 New South Wales Agroforestry Conference. Natural Capital: Trees as an Alternative Crop

The 2024 New South Wales Tree Conference, themed "Natural Capital: Trees as an Alternative Crop," is set to take place on March 20-21 at The Rydges Mount Panorama, Bathurst. This event, organized by Greening Bathurst, Central Tablelands Local Land Services, and the Central Tablelands Regional Landcare Network, focuses on integrating forestry into agricultural practices for sustainable farming. It features an impressive lineup of speakers from various forestry and environmental fields, including Rowan Reid, Professor Rodney Keenan, Dr. Fabiano Ximenes, and others. The conference offers keynote presentations, panel discussions, and a hands-on farm visit, aiming to provide strategic insights and practical knowledge in agroforestry.

The Impact of Landcare in the Central Tablelands

Over the last four years our Landcare groups have been hard at work, even with the difficulties of COVID lockdowns, flooding and fires. Our volunteers commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable agriculture is not just a testament to their dedication but also a beacon of hope for future generations.

Reflections on Positive Planning for Dry Times

This day came about from ideas put forward at a grazing strategies planning meeting hosted by Boorowa Community Landcare Group, NSW Farmers and partners in August 2023. The attendees from across the region identified that connection with people & communication between all groups was essential to support land managers to make positive plans for dry times.

NSW Landcare Awards

Nominations for the 2023/2024 State and Territory Landcare Awards are now open! Now in its 32nd year, the State and Territory Landcare Awards stand as a prestigious biennial national Landcare Awards program. The objective is to honour individuals, groups and organisations that are making outstanding contributions to caring for the environment in their local communities for the benefit of all Australians today, and for generations to come. In each state and territory, the Landcare Awards will be granted to recognise the achievements that encompass climate action, environmental leadership, sustainable agriculture, First Nations, Women in landcare, youth, Coastcare and children. Nominating is free. You can nominate yourself, or you can nominate someone you know who should be recognised for their work to restore, enhance and protect the natural environment in their community. Nominating is easy. If you know an individual, group or organisation in your community making a difference to the environment and sustainable land or water use, nominate them for a Landcare Award. The winners of the nine national Landcare Award categories will advance as finalists to the 2024 National Landcare Awards. To nominate visit the Landcare Australia website at https://landcareaustralia.org.au/landcare-awards-2023/

Little River Landcare’s Journey through the Soils PET Project

The Soils PET (People, Education, Technology) Pilot Project, led by Little River Landcare was a successful initiative in Central West NSW that revolutionised soil health management. Through extensive soil sampling, interactive workshops, the project engaged 150 landholders, fostering sustainable agricultural practices and strengthening rural community networks.

The Great Australian Wildlife Search, 2023

The Central Tablelands Regional Landcare Network, in collaboration with the Odonata Foundation, is partaking in the Great Australian Wildlife Search, utilizing Environmental DNA (eDNA) to gather vital data on local species. Through the analysis of water samples from 18 different locations, the initiative will enhance understanding of the region's biodiversity. The project is supported by the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, which has funded the necessary sampling kits. This research will contribute to the broader knowledge of Australia's wildlife and help strengthen the community's bond with the natural environment.

PINAROO PLANTING DAYS

We are looking for volunteers to continue our planting work along Wingecarribee River on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd October. With 700 trees to go in this is a big event for us and we will need lots of hands to get those plants in and growing. Please see the attached file for details.

UDCLG Newsletters for 2023

The Upper Deua Catchment Landcare Group produce regular newsletters and share then with the local community. A record of the group's newsletters for 2023 can be found below. We'd like to acknowledge and thank community liaison officer Cath Harrison for all her time in preparing and compiling these newsletters.

Watch it Now: Araluen Creek Restoration Project Film has Launched!

On Saturday 9 September 2023, Upper Deua Catchment Landcare group and the Araluen Community celebrated the completion of the Araluen Creek Restoration Project 2021-2023. This special 'red carpet' event at the Araluen Federal Hall featured the 'world premiere' of the short documentary film made by local award-winning documentary filmmaker Clare Young and her team.