ReLeaf Autumn 2022

GOING BEYOND A Trees For Life Publication AUTUMN 2022 ISSUE 161

40 MILLION TREES & BEYOND

QBE HELPS SEED THE FUTURE

SAVING THE MAGIC FOREST

O E C d n a t n e id s e r our P a Je

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MESSAGES FROM

Thank you to everyone who donated to our ‘40 Million Trees & beyond’ appeal. We’re always humbled by your generous support and we’re very excited about the next phase in our journey at Trees For Life.

Mother Nature is telling us loud and clear — it really is time to ‘go beyond’ to protect and restore this planet. Life is precious and our time on this planet is precious. People involved with Trees For Life understand this, and understand that healthy biodiversity underpins all of life.

In this edition of ReLeaf you will read the story of David Cross — someone who exemplifies the vision and commitment of people who work side by side with Trees For Life.

He is deeply passionate about our planet and he is doing everything he can to protect and restore the native vegetation that underpins his local ecosystem.

After meeting David and hearing his story, we were deeply moved by his passion, determination, and the enormous investment he is making in private land conservation on the Fleurieu Peninsula. The small remnant patches of vegetation which

IN THIS ISSUE… 2

40 MILLION TREES & BEYOND

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QBE HELPS SEED THE FUTURE

Trees For Life acknowledges the traditional Custodians of our land and waters and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. We acknowledge and respect the deep spiritual connection and relationship that First Nations peoples have to Country.

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are home to nationally threatened woodland stand like a beacon to us all of what is at stake. Fittingly, this region is also home to some of the most determined Trees For Life pioneers including Betty Westwood whom David knew as he was growing up. They inspired him and now he is inspiring those around him.

As we embark on this next decade in the Trees For Life story, inspiration is a vital ingredient. South Australia has demonstrated many times we can be a world leader — solar energy is a recent example. Can we do the same now for nature conservation over the coming decade?

This decade is the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration which aims to ”prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems on every continent and in every ocean”. Making this real will require significant investment, alongside knowledge, science and, most importantly, people power. People like Betty and David and countless other Trees For Life supporters have already shown the way. Imagine a South Australia that has shown the world what is possible.

Please join us on this journey. 

What's happening

Cover photo: Nankeen kestrel (Falco cenchroides) by Neil Edwards.

10 What’s on

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IMAGE: Eucalyptus camaldulensis near Charleston.

40 MILLION TREES & BEYOND THANK YOU

To everyone who donated to our 40 Million Trees & beyond campaign, thank you!

Thanks to your generosity, we can continue to collect seed while it’s available, grow and plant seedlings to bring the land back to life and explore ways to protect our threatened ecosystems.

As we look forward to the decades ahead, we do so with hope; confident that together we can make our SA home a better place for all.

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GOING BEYOND QBE HELPS SEED THE FUTURE

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rees For Life has always had a practical approach to bringing about change.

Blending the best of modern science with existing knowledge, testing new approaches and working with partners and landholders is essential in our journey towards climate resilience.

In 2021, we released our Climate Change Resilience Strategy; it identifies priority actions and directions on how we intend to tackle the challenges of climate change. Climate proofing vegetation is one of the key themes outlined in the strategy. Of great concern is the impact of seed availability which poses increasing risks for the establishment and survival of direct seeding projects. It is crucial that we learn to do more with less.

Understanding that innovation will be key to success, the Direct Seeding team has developed a project to investigate and trial new technologies and methods to increase effectiveness and resilience.

Through a grant of $25,000, the QBE Foundation local grant program is helping Trees For Life by supporting the first stage of this exciting new research project — allowing us to undertake the necessary trials by developing a new Direct Seeding machine.

"QBE is committed to helping communities become more resilient to the impacts of climate change," says QBE Foundation Co-Chair, Jon Fox. "That’s why we were all so excited about the work Trees For Life is doing."

Trees For Life CEO, Natasha Davis, says the Direct Seeding trials are critical to help understand how we approach large revegetation projects in a changing climate.

"We have had a few very hot summers," says Natasha. "And that means there’s a lot of variability in the seed that is available. For core species we need for vital revegetation projects, particularly the acacias and eucalypts, there were whole seasons when they simply weren’t available.

And then the cycle continues — because we have less vegetation and then even less seed."

Direct Seeding Manager David Hein will lead the project, drawing on his extensive background in farming and decades of knowledge gained in the field. The QBE Foundation local grant will go towards the research and development of David’s innovative project. This includes staff time to develop ideas, as well as fund the cost of building the machine and key trial runs. David has already begun the lengthy process of developing the Intermittent Seed Box and establishing the trial sites.

“We have found our three trial sites, a less than 350 mm rainfall area, 400 mm rainfall area and a 600 mm rainfall area,” says David. “We’ve also established how we will conduct trials and separate our seed — in the past we used to have a mixture of many species in two separate boxes but now we will be utilising seven separate boxes for each species” By separating the species and refining the calibration to increase the efficiency and accuracy with which they enter the soil, David aims to maximise the use of seed and provide more opportunities for growth.

As with all pioneering efforts it will require skill, time and patience. We’re grateful to the QBE Foundation for supporting this project to help our team continue to deliver successful large-scale revegetation projects.

Going beyond allows us to discover new and exciting possibilities for the future. 

IMAGE: Direct Seeding Manager David

Hein checking an acacia for seed.

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SAVING THE MAGIC FOREST

By Claire Bowman

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n February the southern Mt Lofty Ranges, traditional Ngarrindjeri land, feels quintessentially South Australian. I pass through golden, summer-dry grazing land and vineyards so vibrantly green it’s hard to believe. Though this summer has seen a few good rains, the land and air are dry. Lone native trees offer shade on sun-drenched paddocks, making the perfect gnarled homes for small creatures. The low hills roll away into the distance and stands of remnant forest create denser patches of shade where acacia, callitris and eucalyptus come together to darken the contours of the land.

I’m looking for one of these stands in particular. The owner of the place calls it “the magic forest”. The long driveway that leads there has lush vineyards on one side and a thick bushland — the magic forest itself — is visible on the other. Between the driveway and the vineyard, a strip of old grazing land is scattered with teal tree guards and small, shrubby trees standing a metre or more over their tops.

IMAGE: The

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cleared areas of the property are home to some larger trees.

Encompassing 110 acres, this land has been the project of its owner David since 2017. In only those short years, his patch has expanded, slowly embracing bits and pieces of neighbouring properties that he has been able to purchase from a neighbourhood of obliging farmers.

Many of the farmers in the area run sheep on land that’s been cleared for a century. They see the value that this conservation project brings to the area.

Parts of the property are already protected under a Heritage Agreement, including the forest.

David envisions that with help from Trees For Life, as well as other parties who take an interest in the project, more of the land will come under protected status in his lifetime.

Rebecca O'Leary, the Heritage Agreement Outreach Officer from Trees For Life, has joined us on the site. She explains the meaning of an agreement like this. Heritage status puts a legal protection on the title of the land itself. “It can never be cleared, even when David moves on, whatever happens to it … it’s in perpetuity.”

Now and into the future, for all our lives and far beyond our lifetimes, it’s been written into the law that this forest must continue to exist.

The gravity of the heritage status and the importance of protecting places like this begins to sink in as I discover more about the site. On a large map, David shows us the areas of land that are protected under agreements, both long-standing and new, as well as the areas where planting and direct seeding have begun to revegetate the retired farmland. He points out the parts that are newly acquired, where this year’s work will take place. Then we head out to see for ourselves.

Before we set out, David warns us to tuck long hair under our hats. His own is already concealed, hidden from the raptors that have been known to come uncomfortably close, perhaps mistaking a ponytail for a rabbit or rodent.

“It’s the driest time of the year.”

David says as we move out into the bush.

Though dry, it’s still green and alive with movement. The birds are the most obvious, quick flashes of brilliant colour that catch my eye between the branches. A few roos raise their heads at our approach and lope off our path.

No sign of the raptors today, or their preferred prey. Attempts to limit the rabbit population have been fairly successful and there’s little evidence of trampling or nibbling around the seedlings here. The planting and seeding efforts from last year that are visible between the trees are coming up strong and healthy. They haven’t needed watering this year after a wet winter and some summer showers.

This thick old growth has never been cleared and has stood under a

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TOP LEFT IMAGE:

Inspecting an area of recent direct seeding.

BOTTOM LEFT IMAGE: A newly

added section of the property where revegetation is yet to start.

Heritage Agreement since the early eighties. Aerial photographs taken by a light aircraft in 1947, show the extent of clearing in the area and remind David of the progress that’s already been made here. “The pictures are scary because except for this little patch of forest here and that one over there, and even that was pretty denuded in 1947, it looked like a nuke site. Not a tree anywhere … it’s a wonder these lived, survived. When I look at that 1947 picture and I look at one now, it’s a hundred times better [now].”

Regardless of its history and some more sparse surroundings, this old growth area is filled with life, from tiny fungus to towering eucalyptus.

Unique species make their home here. Bright birds, native grasses, endangered silver daisies. I’m told an orchid* that hasn’t been sighted in decades showed its petals here in the spring. As far as David knows, it’s the only existing population.

I’m not the only one who finds this amazing. “Of all the galaxies and on earth … the only place to find some of the DNA and some of the species is here. The only place is right here,” says Rebecca.

The special nature of this place, and any place like it, is undoubtedly felt by the many hands who have helped bring it to being. David attributes the work being done almost entirely to the many volunteers and groups that have come in with helping hands wide open. “It’s a big cooperative thing and I’m just a facilitator,” he says.

I ask him what the longer term plan is for that project.

“My whole aim is to get the whole lot totally locked in forever. This bit here and this bit here, the major existing stands of forest … this is never going back to agriculture. Ever going back.”

But David and Rebecca agree that it’s not as simple as to simply stop clearing or other detrimental land use. That is only the beginning. With ongoing threats from invasive plants and animals, as well as challenges posed by the warming climate, many hands are required to maintain a large patch like this. “A Heritage Agreement and a managed Heritage Agreement are two completely different things,” says Rebecca.

To keep a place like this in a state resembling the landscape before farming, protection and conservation must sit side-byside. “If I use the word ‘protect’, I’ll also generally use the word ‘conserve’ or ‘manage’ in the same sentence. For me it’s quite different. They’ve both got their places. Some people think we just have to lock up land … but generally you’ve got to manage it. With threats, you’ve got to manage it. To conserve something, in my mind, means to actively manage it rather than just protecting it and putting a fence around it.”

David notes another layer to the work of conservation. "A lot of people think that they just plant a tree and leave it. It’s not, I can tell you that!”

In agreement, Rebecca says planting trees is “a speck of what has to happen. From collecting the seeds, to germinating them, putting them

Of all the galaxies, and on earth … the only place to find some of the DNA and some of the species is here. The only place is right here

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RIGHT IMAGE: Planting efforts from previous years of planting, three to four years ago, growing strong.

in tubes, to actually finally going out.

And then, like David said, the afterwork of weed control and watering and putting in tree guards, and taking tree guards out … there’s a lot more to maintaining and trying to recreate.”

All this and more happens at the hands of the countless dedicated people who have a story here. But David, the neighbouring farmers, Trees For Life and many volunteers all agree: it’s worth the effort.

Looking out to the paddock that has been newly direct seeded by Trees For Life, it is clear to me that David is seeing something that isn’t yet visible.

“My vision is 100 years from now … One day they’ll look out here and it will be as thick as that [existing forest]. But being humans and being impatient we’d love to see it all up now!”

He gives special mention to a number of the individuals who’ve worked closely with him. David has gratitude for the significant contributions of the Scunthorpe group, who have funded and supported plantings on site. When it comes to neighbouring farmers, one in particular stands out. It happens to be another David, David Eckert, who has gone so far as to have an adjoining part of his property signed over to ensure it remains protected.

Another directly adjoining farmer, Angela Veitch (a Life Member of Trees For Life), has also transferred adjacent heritage forest to be included and is excited about the aims of the project.

That section and more are seeded or ready to be seeded thanks to the efforts of David Hein and his Direct Seeding team at Trees For Life.

Since its inception, this place has been a long-term project with Trees For Life. Funding was initially secured through the federal government’s 20 Million Trees Project, and then through the endangered silver daisy project, which is still continuing on site. Now, a grant from the SA Government through the Revitalising Private Conservation in South Australia Program will fund weed control, revegetation and seedling protection on the property. David has

made the ultimate acknowledgement of a shared vision by naming Trees For Life in his Will, to ensure all the work being done will be valuable well beyond the lifetime of anyone involved today.

Seeing action like this is one of the reasons Rebecca has chosen to work in Heritage Agreements. “Once people put a Heritage Agreement on their property then that’s it forever … action now is going to influence this pocket of land forever. It’s pretty amazing.”

This particular project is doubly valuable for its existing forest and also its unique layout and the careful action that’s being taken to recreate the land as it once was. “This area might not qualify [for Heritage Agreement] in the fact that it’s been cleared. But … it's surrounded by established vegetation so you know eventually, unless you continue clearing it or grazing it, it’s going to turn back to being a forest.

It has been grazed, but it has both conservation value now because of the work that’s been done on it, and it’s got a high amount of conservation value for the future because of how it’s located between these two pockets.”

She can also see how the presence of the older protected forest areas offers something special and inspiring for those involved in the project: a

visual representation of the future possibilities. “It’s a sense of ‘building on’. You can see what it looks like and you’re building on that.”

For David this project, the Heritage Agreement and a legacy left to Trees For Life, are much more about what happens beyond his lifetime than what is happening now.

“Everything is impermanent. But some things, like the forest, are more permanent than others. The things that we do here, and this house, and all human constructions — they will disappear in time. All of that stuff is temporal. The forest up here has been

And we want to enhance it and retain it here forever … that’s the mark I’ll leave. It won’t be anything else I’ve ever done. I will be leaving a forest. That gives a person’s life meaning.

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here for ten thousand years, probably more … and it will be here for the next ten thousand years. And we want to enhance it and retain it here forever … that’s the mark I’ll leave. It won’t be anything else I’ve ever done. I will be leaving a forest. That gives a person’s life meaning.

‘We’re living in a very special place here. We just can’t go to planet B — there is no planet B. And you can see all around you the destruction and it’s still happening. But the thing is: you’ve got to do something.

“I’m a human … I’m not blameless.

There’s a great big chunk of carbon dioxide up there that’s got my name on it … but I will leave the forest.”

Not afraid of looking the great challenges of our lifetime in the eye, David also looks beyond his own life, to a brighter future for the earth and for this small place within it.

“I never thought I’d ever have the chance to give back to the world. This is my legacy. A lot of people leave children to the world, or leave money.

When I’ve got five minutes to live, on my deathbed, I can’t complain about anything life’s given me. But I know I’m going to leave this. And I’m going to leave it in good hands. It’s very important to me.” 

The Revitalising Private Conservation in South Australia Program is jointly delivered by environmental and agricultural producer organisations, including Conservation SA, Livestock SA, Nature Conservation Society of South Australia, and Trees For Life.

The program is led by Nature Foundation as the principal delivery partner working closely with the Department for Environment and Water.

*The name of the native orchid has been deliberately left out to avoid people trespassing on the private property to view or photograph this species.

TOP RIGHT IMAGE:

Rebecca and David walking towards the old growth area, the ‘magic forest'.

BOTTOM RIGHT IMAGE:

Seedlings springing up after last season’s direct seeding by Trees For Life.

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WHAT'S HAPPENING AT TREES ANNUAL GARDEN FOR LIFE? PLANT SALE

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id you know the native common everlasting (Chrysocephalum apiculatum) is a nectar and host plant for the Australian painted lady butterfly (Vanessa kershawi, pictured). A cheerful native plant with bright golden flowers, it’s a hardy, low maintenance, ornamental shrub with silvery grey foliage that will add something special to any garden. This native species and many more will be available at our Annual Garden Plant Sale. We’ll also have plants suitable for larger properties, perfect for those who missed out on our last Tree Scheme order season. Trees For Life members receive a discount on all plants. Join online to access great savings at treesforlife.org.au.

Join us on 1 to 4 June between 9 am and 1 pm at our Westwood Nursery. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we'll be managing the number of people in the nursery at one time. Bookings essential. Contact us for more details.

TREE SCHEME ORDERS: OPEN 1 MAY

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ith a bumper season of orders placed last year, we’re preparing to start again in May for our 2022 Tree Scheme season. Native trees and shrubs provide amazing benefits for landscapes across South Australia. You can choose species to create windbreaks and shelter belts, attract pollinators, manage soil erosion and create homes for our precious native animals. If you ordered in the 2021 season, keep an eye on the post for your 2022 order from early May. If you don’t receive an order form, or would like us to send you one, please call 08 8406 0500 and we’ll send you a form for your area. You'll also find more information about the Tree Scheme on our website. Subsidies are available to South Australian landholders affected by fires from 2019-2022, and small community groups or schools (if you’re unsure if you qualify, we encourage you to get in touch). Please keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for updates.

Orders are open from 1 May until 31 August 2022.

EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING

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rees For Life is holding an Extraordinary General Meeting on Thursday 28 April at 6.00 pm, online via Zoom. The purpose of the short meeting is to seek approval for minor Constitutional amendments.

These are mostly administrative, and also provide clarity about the use of online technologies for meetings and decision making out of session. For further information, and to RSVP, please email info@treesforlife.org.au or call us on 08 8406 0500.

TREE SCHEME GROWERS: NEED BACK-UP?

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ith May fast approaching you should have an idea of the number of seedlings you’ll have ready to hand over to your landholder for planting this winter. If you’re growing for a landholder it’s important to make sure you fulfil their entire order. If you find you need more seedlings to meet their order, please get in touch to request back-up seedlings. Back-up seedlings will be ready to collect from our Westwood Nursery on 28 to 30 April from 10 am to 12 pm. If you’re growing for your own project, please note not all grow-your-own species are available as back-up.

However, we’ll do our best to find appropriate replacement species for your needs. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we'll be managing the number of people in the Nursery across our Back-up Collection Days. Bookings will be essential and we’ll send more details in early April. If you’re unsure if you require back-up seedlings, or if you have any questions about your growing activities, please contact us.

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WHAT'S ON

BUSH FOR LIFE EVENTS

From Monday 14 February 2022 until further notice our office at 5 May Terrace, Brooklyn Park will be open to the public from 10 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday. Please note the Westwood Nursery is currently closed to the public.

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer on one of our Bush For Life sites, or would like to learn more about managing your own bushland, come along to a Bushcare Workshop. Workshops are free for members. Please note details correct at time of printing and are subject to change.

Stepping Stones into Nature Family Nature Day with animals from the Nature Education Centre, Murray Bridge Community Centre

22 April 10am – 1pm

Trees For Life Extraordinary General Meeting via Zoom (please RSVP, see page 9)

28 April 6pm

Stepping Stones into Nature First Nations Cultural Tour, Murray Bridge (location TBC)

4 May 10am – 12pm

Stepping Stones into Nature Bushcare day, Community Garden Murraylands Migrant Resource Centre

20 May 10am – 12pm

Stepping Stones into Nature Planting field trip — endangered Silver Daisy. Meldanda (Cambrai) Regenerate in the Adelaide Park Lands Caring for mental health and well-being through bushcare and guided nature walks (International students and City of Adelaide residents 55+)

BUSHCARE WORKSHOPS

Back-up In: Volunteers deliver Tree Scheme back-up seedlings Westwood Nursery Australian Plants Society’s Native Plant Sale Wayville Tree Scheme ordering season Plan Your Dream Native Garden Workshop Westwood Nursery — bookings essential Showing Native Plants at their Best Workshop Westwood Nursery — bookings essential

5 April

Gawler

5 May

Blackwood

21 May

Modbury

8 June

Kapunda

18 June

COME AND TRY BUSH ACTION TEAM DAYS 3 June 9:30am – 2:30pm Held every month in 2022 10am – 1pm

TREE SCHEME AND NURSERY Advanced Seed Collection Workshop* Blackwood (*Completion of ‘Introduction to Seed Collection Workshop’ is a prerequisite)

Adelaide

30 March

24 – 26 March 10am – 12pm 9 – 10 April 1 May – 31 August 14 & 21 May 10am – 1pm 21 May 2:30pm – 4:30pm

FLEURIEU PLANTING TEAM

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he Trees For Life Fleurieu Planting Team volunteers help out with planting on the Fleurieu Peninsula, from the South Eastern Freeway to Cape Jervis and Callington to Yankalilla. The team is available from May to September. If you’d like help with your planting project it’s essential to get in contact as early as possible.

Contact Bunti, Volunteer Planting Coordinator, on 0429 016 335, or email: bunti@adam.com.au. Please do not call after 7pm Sunday to Thursday.

Flagstaff Hill

6 April

Wattle Park

8 April

Tanunda

12 April

Mount Barker Summit

14 April

Hillbank

20 April

Jupiter Creek

22 April

Fairview Park

26 April

Lonsdale

28 April

Hallett Cove

30 April

Bibaringa

4 May

Cherry Gardens

6 May

Semaphore Dunes

10 May

Dingabledinga

12 May

Marino

14 May

Echunga

20 May

Greenhill

24 May

Lonsdale

26 May

Blackwood

28 May

Barabba

1 June

Aldgate

3 June

Blackwood

9 June

Freeling

21 June

Kersbrook

23 June

Willaston

29 June

COVID-19 NOTICE: Due to ongoing uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 restrictions, please check the advertised dates closer to the event by calling our office or checking for updates on our website and Facebook page.

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THANKS TO

South Australian Government entities not shown above include the Department for Environment and Water.

5 May Terrace Brooklyn Park SA 5032 08 8406 0500 info@treesforlife.org.au treesforlife.org.au @treesforlifesa #treesforlifesa