Sweet sisters need a home

Although they are sisters there is certainly no sibling rivalry here. They share food, beds and are happiest when they are lying together with their special human.

Misty is a bit more outgoing. She is always first in for a pat and her little tail wags from the moment she gets up in the morning to when she hops into bed at night. Sasha is a little more reserved and will wait patiently for her turn whilst her sister steals the limelight.

Tickets are now available! Visit: events.humanitix. com/sunshine-coast-bioblitz-2023-barung-landcare, to book tickets to Barung's weekend of activities.

What exactly is the Sunshine Coast BioBlitz?

A BioBlitz is a citizen science-led intensive biological survey, centred around encapsulating the biodiversity of an area. From beginner to expert, there will be something for everyone!

Learn how to identify flora, fauna, fungi and more through various workshops. Watch demonstrations on thermal drone imaging, detection dogs and motion cameras. Then, put your newfound knowledge to work through field surveys alongside your peers and experts.

The aim of the event is to connect citizen science with industry professionals, whilst collecting data to greater understand the biodiversity of our biosphere and greater inform future conservation action. New species and range extensions have been also been recorded through these BioBlitz surveys.

About That Tree

with Tree Surgeon Tony Wootton, our local arborist and author, meeting the Hinterland's tree needs since 1996

Spring has sprung, and it is probably the most colourful time of year up here on the Maleny plateau.

It’s time for the monthly request to help an animal (or two), with 4 Paws Animal Rescue, a 100% volunteer run charity organisation which re-homes homeless cats and dogs on the Sunshine Coast.

Introducing Sasha and Misty. This gorgeous pair are three-year-old Wire-Haired Jack Russell Terriers, who are seeking their furever home. They are a bonded pair and must remain together.

In the Wild

These two little darlings have delighted their carers from the initial meeting. They are such even tempered, friendly little dogs that are happy to do whatever is going on at the time.

These two gorgeous girls do need a little bit of training (although quick learners and are eager to please). If you have no young children at home, have no cats, live on the Sunshine Coast, will ideally be home most of the time and feel that you could give the love that these girls need then please go to the website to find out more: 4pawsanimalrescue.org.au

with Spencer Shaw

Guarding Your Stock

When revegetating you can plant without tree guards, but they can be a valuable aid in protecting the time and money you have invested in your tubestock planting. Tree guards protect your trees from several threats that include, weeding – oops, did I just spray or brushcut my tree; frost - cold enough to freeze your leaves off; and last but not least - grazing and browsing animals who are always up for a free feed!

You could avoid using guards by planting larger-sized stock, which is a great option for our rainforest trees. Our 4 ltr, 140mm and megatube stock are often big enough that guards aren’t needed, just add mulch! But for the planting of tubestock tree guards are crucial.

There are a wide range of tree guards available on the market from polyurethane bags, cardboard guards and corflute guards. We’ve been experimenting with many over the years and the key to success with guards long term, is that they protect your freshly-planted stock, last long enough for the plant to establish, their cost is reasonable and finally that they biodegrade, and don’t end up in landfill.

This year we came across the green-Pod enviro seedling guard and have trialled them and are now distributing and selling these. After trialling many other cardboard guards we’ve been very impressed with these.

They are manufactured in Australia from an imported compressed 1.25mm board that is made from 100% recycled paper, with no plastic coating and a life expectancy of 12-18 months. The large green-Pod that we are currently stocking is 450mm tall x 170mm diameter and can be installed with bamboo stakes (which also keeps the costs down). For mulch they can be used with the Greenmat, which is made of the same material and very cost-effective, or with our Palm Fibre Mulch Mats, which are now back in stock.

Mulch is the other crucial part of your revegetation project success and Forest Heart ecoNursery / Brush Turkey Enterprises stock one of the best mulch mats on the market (but I would say that). Our Palm Fibre Mats are a long lasting, easy to install mulch, which, when used with the guards, help trees get off to a great start. Come and check them all out at Forest Heart or give us a call to discuss.