December 2016 ReLeaf

Summer 2016 Issue 139

Volunteers awarded for special efforts Threatened flora project underway Our achievements in 12 months

CEO’s Message

General News

Thank you to special volunteers in helping our environment

Together we achieve so much more

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t is the end of a very busy year and I am now much more familiar with the rhythms of Trees For Life that flow with the seasons.

We have had a number of new initiatives starting in 2016, and as always, partnerships have been the key to success. A few are highlighted below - but with over 60 active partners, there are too many to mention them all!

Thanks to the generosity of Viterra and Glencore Grain as well as National Australia Bank and individual donations, this year we were able to offer 50% discounts on native seedling orders to landholders affected by the horrific Pinery fire last November.

We had a good response with over 17,000 seedlings ordered and another 6000 provided to landholders through a plant giveaway this June. We have also supplied 12,300 stakes and guards at discount prices.

It is very pleasing that we will be able to continue this offer in 2017 to fire-affected landholders. Trees For Life worked closely with many groups to ensure a coordinated fire recovery effort, including Natural Resources Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges, Rotary, Greening Australia, CFS, Barossa Bushgardens, local councils and the Department for Communities and Social Inclusion.

‘Regenerate’ is the name of our new program which received funding through the Fund My Community initiative also this year. This program features formal partnerships with six groups in the health and disability sector who are offering TFL bushcare activities to their clients.

In addition to our government and community partners, we work very hard to identify business partners and foundations that can help us expand the range of services and products available to our supporters. For example, it was exciting to receive $2000 from the Booze Brothers staff foundation recently. (Full story Page 13) This will be used to prepare new landholder booklets providing updated information about native plant selection and design.

In 2016, the Harvey Foundation also made a very generous donation towards our direct seeding capital upgrade program appeal and we remain, as always, very grateful to our ongoing sponsors.

I would especially like to acknowledge Alfred James which has supported Trees For Life for 25 years through the Memory Tree initiative. This has resulted in nearly 45,000 native seedlings being planted. (Full story Page 4) It seems more and more businesses are looking for opportunities to volunteer with Trees For Life. This year we welcomed RAA, Minter Ellison, ANZ and APP as new corporate volunteers. People’s Choice Credit Union and Saab group started participating in 2015 and Adelaide Convention Centre has demonstrated their commitment over a number of years to an annual planting day.

Every one of our supporters and volunteers is critical Government, business and community partners are critical, but what would we do without you? Every day Trees For Life staff work hand in hand with all the volunteers who make our on-ground revegetation and conservation achievements possible.

We also would not be here without the generosity of our donors, as well as income from financial memberships. In 2015-16 a total of 1544 individuals or families donated to Trees For Life how amazing!

Keep up and great work and I wish everyone a peaceful, safe and happy festive season. See you in 2017.

- Natasha Davis

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Trees For Life Summer 2016 Number 139

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Pretty Garland Lily once common

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arland Lilies (Calostemma purpureum) were once common in large colonies in grassy areas of SA, in particular the plain on which Adelaide now stands.

Due to urbanisation and grazing, the Garland Lily is now rare, only occurring in small pockets in parks on the outskirts of the city. It often flowers in a leafless state, the narrow, shining-green, strap-like leaves usually preceding flowering and reaching a length of 25-30 cm.

The flowers are purple-pink in colour forming in an umbel of 5-10 showy flowers. A great butterfly nectar food plant too!

Contact us ReLeaf is a production of Trees For Life.

Editor: Tania Kearney (ph: 08 8406 0500 or taniak@treesforlife.org.au) Production/Graphic Design: IS Design + Digital Printing: Finsbury Green

Find us on: Want to advertise?

Advertising space is now available in ReLeaf. Phone (08) 8406 0500 or email taniak@treesforlife.org.au for advertising rates.

Cover Photo: Sheep’s Burr By Jim Humphrys

Trees For Life 5 May Tce, Brooklyn Park 5032 Ph: 8406 0500 Fax: 8406 0599 info@treesforlife.org.au www.treesforlife.org.au

ach year Trees For Life recognises a special group of volunteers for their outstanding efforts in helping the environment.

This year 41 people received Thank You Tree Awards at our annual Christmas function, including retiring depot managers, seedbank volunteers and the Fleurieu Planting Group.

Recipients are: Phillip Harvey (nominated by grateful landholder for being his volunteer grower for 10 years); Norm Lee (for his commitment and friendship); Mick Abberley (for his bushcare skills, “amazing “ number of volunteer hours in caring for bushland and support he gives others); Jenny McInerney (for outstanding work removing olives, boneseed and bridal creeper from the Randall Park site); Geraldine Clark (for her leadership of the Tingira site group and native seed collection); Barbara Cook (for her “unselfish dedication and hard work” on improving several bush sites and sharing extensive knowledge with others); Lynette Venables (for her work on the Magnolia Rd Reserve in Tanunda); Meena Sharma (for providing outstanding support with the TFL database); Campbell McKnight (for supporting BFL with compiling workshop booklets each quarter); Graham Greaves (for outstanding service to TFL); Alfred James (for 25 years of partnership); Karinya Reserve volunteers Wendy Steele, Julie Howe, Karen and David Jones (for long-term commitment to Karinya Reserve West and for the near eradication of Penatameris pallida from the site); Fleurieu Planting Group volunteers Fern Pombert, Angela Parker, Carol Cox-Devore, Jasmine Endersby, Anne Mersey, Andrea Cresswell, Ingrid Kilpatrick, Dianna Hobbs, Bryan Hale and Brock Green; Joan and Jim Scott (for being active site carers on two BFL council reserves in the mid-North for more than 12 years); retiring depot managers Dennis and Carolyn Slade (Athelstone), Jenny Artz (Bordertown) and David Hawkins (Eden Hills); Sylvia Nieuwenhuizen (for performing with grace under pressure while managing the Kalbeeba depot); retiring Board members Hanne Damgaard and David

Grybowski (for outstanding service to the TFL Board); seedbank volunteers Ben Brinkman, Mark Symons, Mary Taylor, Ian Norman, Phil Bagust and Roger Brown (for outstanding service to the seedbank); Pat Glazier (for dedication and commitment to the Hindmarsh Island BFL site); Heather Bean (for dedication and commitment to the Betty Westwood Reserve site) and Marion and Ross Bennett (for dedication to the Victor Harbor BFL site).

We applaud and thank everyone for their help and passion in caring for our special environment.

One of the living walls that make up backdrops for speakers at Adelaide Writers Week.

4400 native plants to make up living walls

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rees For Life will again provide native plants for ‘living walls’ as part of Adelaide Writers Week 2017.

For the third year running, our TFL nursery will grow and supply more than 4400 South Australian native plants for the event, which is being held at the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden from March 4-9.

Last year’s living walls comprised two stage backdrops, an entrance arch and information desk, which featured 32 different species. Organisers decided on the concept as they wanted the audience “to engage with their surrounding environment”.

Adelaide Writers week will feature a range of Australian and overseas writers and thinkers.

What’s on…

Dec 23

TFL office closes for Xmas

Jan 3

TFL office reopens

Jan 10

Seed collection w-shop @ Belair NP

Feb 14

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Willunga

March 4

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Eden Hills

March 4-9

TFL at Writers Week

March 31

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Marion

April 8

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Williamstown

April 26

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Goolwa

May 4

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Mt Barker

May 30

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Port Adelaide

June 7

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Modbury

June 27

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Burnside

(Come and Try bushcare activities on Page 7). For more information on any of the above events, phone Trees For Life on (08) 8406 0500.

Trees For Life office closure over Xmas

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he Trees For Life office and nursery in Brooklyn Park will be closed from midday Friday, December 23, reopening Tuesday January 3.

Board, management and staff wish all of our members, volunteers and supporters a happy and safe festive period. We look forward to working with you in 2017.

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General News

General News

A fun approach to tackle weeds

Welcome to new TFL Board members

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he City of Onkaparinga Nature Conservation Team is working on an extensive ecological rescue mission to restore vital riparian habitat within more than 61 kilometres of creeks across nine catchments in South Australia’s largest metropolitan council region.

The five year (2013 to 2018) Urban Creek Recovery project has been supported through $2.125 million of external funding from the Australian Government and Natural Resources Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges.

The aim of the project is to improve the condition and connectivity of watercourse habitats along council’s numerous creeks, with a strong focus on areas that contain species and ecosystems of national environmental significance.

Like so many watercourses across Australia, the City of Onkaparinga creeks were infested by a diversity of environmental weeds that smother native vegetation, alter water flows, degrade water quality and provide poor habitat for wildlife. Due to the dense thickets of weeds surrounding these waterways, many local residents were actually unaware that some creeks even existed!

Bullies & Heroes As part of the project a series of educational material has been developed including a logo and cartoons depicting ‘Creek Bullies’ and ‘Creek Heroes’. The materials complement more technical information that is already widely available by using a fun and lighthearted approach. The aim is to appeal to the whole community while conveying a message of what a healthy creek system should look like and encouraging people to get back to nature and explore their local creeks.

This approach has been particularly helpful when questions are raised by residents about why some so-called ‘beautiful’ trees are removed.

The urban setting of this project has also enabled the team to forge strong links with local communities.

With dwindling amounts of natural habitat within our urban areas, our creeks remain one of the few wild places left for children and their families to connect with nature.

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Holy cow! Phase 2 of Paddock Tree Project meets a challenge

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Some of the educational material designed to appeal to people of all ages.

The Urban Creek Recovery Project is actively encouraging families to explore creeks and engage in nature play activities through a variety of events and activities.

Just past the half-way mark, the project has already treated more than 500 hectares of environmental weeds including desert ash, blackberry, olive, date palms, swamp sheoak and willows. Complementing this work, more than 86,000 native seedlings (100 different local species) have been planted to help replace habitat elements that have been lost or to stabilise some sites.

For more information visit the Sustainable Onkaparinga section on www.onkaparingacity.com Colouring-in templates on the Creek Bullies and Creek Heroes feature in the Kids Branch of this ReLeaf edition.

Trees For Life Summer 2016 Number 139

his year’s AGM was attended by nearly 30 people and was a time to reflect on the achievements of 2015-16 as well as challenges faced.

We farewelled long-term Board member David Grybowski and our Treasurer of five years Hanne Daamgaard, and welcomed two new TFL supporters to our Board - Janine Mildren in the role of Treasurer and Tracey Shepard as an ordinary Board member. Sarah van Maarsaveen, who has been on the Board for two years, also stepped up to fill the vacancy of Secretary.

Janine has more than 16 years’ experience within the accounting industry. She has a degree in commerce and is CPA qualified. Janine is hoping to share her experiences in finance, IT and procurement within her Trees For Life role to ensure that the organisation can achieve its full potential within the challenges of limited resources.

Tracey works as a Senior Accounts Payable Officer for Capgemini Australia. She has also chaired Capgemini’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee, which won the SA Premier’s award for CSR in 2014. Much of the CSR time was spent working with Trees For Life on Bush For Life sites, which were terrific days spent out of the office.

Please read our new look Annual Report on the TFL website and see some of the achievements on Page 9 of this ReLeaf edition.

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hase 2 of the Paddock Tree Project is well underway, with an expanded area down to Strathalbyn.

We are on track to have enough properties to meet our target of 6000 trees! However, our trial of cattleproof guards has run into a glitch in the form of a herd of cows.

We trialled several different types of tree guards and were crossing our fingers that at least one design would withstand the interest of curious cows.

After only a few weeks, some very curious and itchy cows managed to all but destroy the standard tree guard which we have been using on sheep properties.

The more robust cattle guards survived better, but were still not able to completely withstand the weight of cows using them as a scratching post.

This result is disappointing, but we will continue to try and find a cattleproof tree guard. In the meantime, we will focus on sheep properties in the 2017 planting season.

Memorial Tree Program turns 25!

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rees For Life and Alfred James this year celebrates a 25 year partnership.

It is an enduring relationship that has resulted in nearly 45,000 trees being planted as memorial trees to honour the lives of those lost.

Plantings have taken place in three locations over the years.

Before 2004 trees and shrubs were planted at Cobbler Creek and O’Halloran Hill Recreation Park. Since 2004 seedlings have been planted at Monarto Zoo (managed by Zoos SA), which has led to a three-way partnership for the Memorial Tree Program between Alfred James, Trees For Life and Zoos SA.

One of our tree guard designs was no match for a herd of curious and itchy cows! We’ll keep persevering however.

Crucial habitat

Janine Mildren

Tracey Shepard

The plantings play a crucial role in creating habitat for native species and the partnership has also helped educate South Australians about the value of native plants. All the seedlings have been grown in the TFL nursery at Brooklyn Park.

This year 1200 seedlings were planted at Monarto. The species included Allocasuarina verticillata (Drooping Sheoak), Eucalyptus incrassata (Ridge-Fruited Mallee), Eucalyptus calycogona (Square-Fruited Mallee), Eucalyptus leptophylla (NarrowLeaved Mallee), Eucalyptus socialis (Summer Red Mallee), Eucalyptus

Top: Alfred James Director Graham James with TFL Nursery Manager Brett Oakes and CEO Natasha Davis. Above: Monarto Aboriginal Learning in Country team member Leon Dodd (left) and trainee Shaquille Karpany pick up Monarto seedlings from Brett. phenax (Cong Mallee), Acacia brachybotrya (Grey Mulga), Acacia euthycarpa (Wallowa), Acacia rigens (Nealie Wattle), Melaleuca acuminata (Mallee Honey-Myrtle), Melaleuca lanceolata (Dryland Tea Tree) and Melaleuca uncinata (Broombush).

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Tree Scheme

Tree Scheme

Big thanks to our depot partners

Grower workshops well received

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n mid November nearly 30 depots operated around the State distributing propagation supplies to our team of enthusiastic growers.

The depots are all run by volunteer managers, some of whom have been helping us for more than 20 years.

In response to fluctuations in order numbers this year, we gave some managers ‘long service leave’ and temporarily amalgamated sites. Many of these depot managers helped out in nearby depots.

Depots are often located on private property, while others use sites generously offered by a range of partners including councils, schools, SA Water, country show grounds, Arid Lands Botanic Garden, State Government, Centennial Park and SES. It’s a unique network and without it the Tree Scheme would not be possible. Thank you to all involved.

Planting help is available on Fleurieu Peninsula

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he Fleurieu Trees For Life Volunteer Tree Planting Team works across sites from the South Eastern Freeway to Cape Jervois, Callington to Yankalilla.

If your planting site is in this area they may be able help. Contact Bunti Pellen, Volunteer Planting Coordinator, early in the new year to organise a time. The team plants from May to September and it’s essential to book early as spaces fill fast.

Contact Bunti on (08) 7329 2889 or email bunti@adam.com.au to find out more (please don’t call after 7pm Sunday-Thursday).

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Lockleys Primary School students Heath and Acacia Edey admire some of the native plants in the school’s new garden beds.

New gardens at Lockleys primary

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ockleys Primary School is our neighbourhood school, located near our Westwood Nursery in Brooklyn Park.

Over the years we have developed a great working relationship with this small but very dynamic school, which in 2016 celebrated its 100th year.

To mark this special milestone Trees For Life provided more than 200 native plants for the school’s butterfly and native plant garden beds. The seedlings were planted and watered by the school’s Eco-Team and a willing band of hard-working parents.

The beds were on show when the school successfully celebrated its Centenary Gala Day with the local community in early November.

ore than 110 people attended our 13 free Volunteer Grower Workshops in OctoberNovember.

The practical, small-group workshops are open to members either volunteering or growing seedlings for themselves and range from first-time growers to experienced and long-term growers.

We received many positive comments from new growers: “very informative session and look forward to the growing challenge!” and “information clear and interesting and I now feel more confident”.

Other experienced growers said “grown and been to a workshop previously and still found it useful to pick up new tips” and “I have grown before but the workshop provided quite a few new ideas that I can use”.

Many participants commented on the friendliness of our presenters and the value of getting their hands dirty during the practical exercises. One of the St Joseph Hectorville students who attended summarised it by saying they had “amazing fun!”

Our workshop registrations open in June each year when we start calling for volunteer growers, so look out for next year’s dates in our Spring edition of ReLeaf.

The Volunteer Grower Workshops are proudly supported by SA Power Networks.

Trees For Life Nursery The 2016 summer sowing season closes soon!

Order quality provenance seedlings for bulk or specialised projects. Choose from our provenance species lists or we can collect and grow seed and cuttings to order.

Phone (08) 8406 0500 or email info@treesforlife.org.au

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Trees For Life Summer 2016 Number 139

A tale of trees and friendship

TFL helps Orangebellied parrots at Zoos SA

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his is one of Trees For Life’s true success stories: a story of more than 8000 trees being planted by two families who formed a close bond over an 18-year period.

Mallee landholders Jayne and Anthony Gregurke, say they “struck it lucky” when they were matched up with volunteer grower Simon Cooper and his partner Julee through our Tree Scheme Program in 1998.

Jayne said they joined TFL as their Parrakie property needed stock shelter for shade and windbreaks and stabilisation of sandhills from wind erosion.

“The Murray Mallee was overcleared due to a need to control vermin (rabbit). Back in 1905-1920 they didn’t have current poisons available so only manual methods were used.

“Revegetation has (now) provided our sheep with shade in summer and protection from cold winds, particularly once they have been shorn. The revegetation has helped with wind erosion stabilising three blowouts (sandhills) and definitely provided habitat which has benefited crops and the wellbeing of the land!”

Jayne said.

Simon and Julee of Burnside, have grown between 400-450 seedlings a year for the Gregurkes.

Simon said when he was first asked to grow for a Mallee family he was excited as he loves the Mallee landscape – and hoped he could help plant the trees at some stage.

“Both Jayne and Anthony from day one have been very inviting and keen for both our families to be involved,” Simon said.

“I recall driving back to Adelaide with Julee the first year after a solid day planting thinking this was one of the best days of my life. I still have this feeling every time returning home.”

In the few years immediately following the first landholder-grower match, both couples started their own families. Subsequently, the children enjoyed each others company each year and still try to get together on the planting days.

Simon said planting time remains a key calendar day in their diaries.

Every June-July Simon and Julee take up their trailer load of trees; the

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Many memories have been made between the two families over an 18-year period. property having been ripped a week prior for ease of planting. Extended family members from both sides have also joined in with the planting over the years.

“We enjoy a fantastic shared lunch where we catch up on what has happened over the year. Seeing how our trees are growing beyond propagation is vital to us all and completes the cycle,” Simon said.

And, in what Simon described as “a beautiful gesture”, the Gregurkes have named two of their shelter belts after Simon and Julee’s children.

“Jayne and Anthony’s commitment to the land and environmental health demonstrates a balance and understanding of how a family farm and livelihood is linked to the protection and care of the environment.

“Having lunch under the protection of the trees we have grown with birds chirping in the branches, looking into the distance a couple of kilometres away seeing mature trees we also planted with such wonderful people is an experience and sense of achievement unparalleled in my life.”

The feeling is well and truly mutual according to Jayne.

“A big thank you to Trees For Life and to Simon, Julee, Wes, Katie and Margaret for the trees they have grown. But even more so for who you are, your friendship and sharing the same views with us, making the world a better place by planting trees.”

he Orange-bellied Parrot (OBP) is a small ‘grass parrot’ and as its name suggests, has an orange patch on its belly.

They migrate between the Australian mainland and Tasmania, spending summer breeding in Tasmania and winter in coastal Victoria and South Australia. Sadly, the OBP is one of Australia’s most endangered species, with less than 50 parrots thought to exist in the wild today, threatened by habitat loss, introduced predators and weeds.

For more than 14 years Zoos SA has played an important role in the national recovery efforts for this species including housing an insurance population and participating in a managed breeding and release program.

Although the majority of breeding birds are housed off limits at Adelaide Zoo, the colourful parrots can be seen in the parrot aviary opposite the Patagonian Mara and in an aviary behind the pelicans.

Recently Trees For Life provided a number of suitable native habitat plants for these exhibit areas including pigface, berry saltbush, and varied native grass and daisy species to ensure the birds feel right at home in their zoo surrounds. This is one of many projects where Trees For Life and Zoos SA have worked together; another being the longterm Alfred James Memorial Tree program at Monarto Zoo. To find out more about OBP recovery visit: http://birdlife.org. au/projects/orange-bellied-parrotrecovery

Photo by Chris Tzaros

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Bush For Life

Bush For Life

Wildflowers emerge as divine treasures

G Bushcare volunteer Trevor Carmichael and field officer Priya Spencer.

Help with bushland fire damage

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n January 2015 the Sampson Flat bushfire burnt 12,000 hectares in the Adelaide Hills, including eight Bush For Life sites.

With funding support from the Adelaide Hills Council, Trees For Life is holding a series of bushfire recovery Bush Action Teams over the next 12 months.

Several activities to support bushland recovering from the fire have already been held in October and November on both BFL and Adelaide Hills Council sites.

The focus during these activities have been broadleaf weeds, Pussytail Grass, bulbs, herbaceous weeds, woody weeds such as Gorse, Mint, South African Daisy and grassy weeds.

More activities will be held in 2017 so please get involved - your support in helping the bushland recover would be appreciated!

Please give us your feedback

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reminder for Bush For Life volunteers to complete their end of year questionnaire.

We know that you prefer to be out in the bush rather than doing paperwork but this questionnaire is the main way that we can report back to our funding partners about our achievements. Even if you only answer Question One, your volunteering effort reflects well on our program, improving funding and support for future years of bushcaring!

We appreciate your help in returning the questionnaire. If you have misplaced yours please contact bfl@treesforlife.org.au

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ood things come to those who wait. Wildflowers are bushland treasures that reward us for our efforts.

They are both a reminder of why our bushcarers persevere weed after weed and an example of the bountiful glory that is the regenerating bush.

Some bushcarers have been caring for their sites for years or decades before they see all of the plants listed on their native species lists.

This year our volunteers and regional coordinators have been rewarded with a brilliant display of spring flowers.

“I’ve seen Fire Orchid leaves emerge year after year, but this is the first time I have seen it in flower!” Bush For Life field officer Priya Spencer said.

It has been a particularly good year for wildflowers because of the plentiful rains and orchids that we have not seen for many years are emerging! The photos below show just a few of the glorious bushland treasures that have graced us with their presence this winter and spring.

BFL picnic now a season launch

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big thank you to all Bush For Life volunteers for another excellent season of bushcaring!

We’ve listened to your feedback and as a result BFL will be holding another season launch picnic in April 2017 instead of an end of year picnic.

We hope you can join us next year.

Students, BAT it out this summer!

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oin our summer Bush Action Team (BAT) and build skills for your resume.

• Develop your bush regeneration and plant identification skills in a fully supported and friendly environment • 9am -3.30pm onsite or join us for half a day • Cool drinks and nibbles supplied at the end of the day • Catch our air-conditioned bus from Brooklyn Park, with select pickups along the way • Activities across one of our 300+ Bush For Life (BFL) sites The location of each activity is decided according to the weather forecast. Phone (08) 8406 0500.

Bushcare dates Caladenia tentaculata (King Spider-orchid)

Glossodia major (Purple Cockatoo)

Craspedia variabilis (Billy Buttons)

Wednesday

February 1

Wednesday

February 8

Saturday

February 11

Wednesday

February 15

Wednesday

February 22

Saturday

February 25

Wednesday

March 1

Wednesday

March 8

Saturday

March 11

Wednesday

March 15

Wednesday

March 22

Saturday

March 25

Wednesday

March 29

Event highlights the need to save our species

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hreatened Species Day is held each year on September 7 and commemorates the death of the last Thylacene (Tasmanian Tiger) in Hobart Zoo in 1936.

This year Trees For Life held a community event on Threatened Species Day at Finniss Oval as part of our Community Action for Threatened Flora project.

Around 160 primary school students from Milang, Langhorne Creek, Strathalbyn and Goolwa came along to learn about threatened species, native plants and animals, and the importance of a healthy natural environment.

The students rotated through nine learning stations including Native Bees, Ecosystems, GYO seedling, FrogWatch, Seeds and the popular Nature Junkyard for some free play.

Some of the lovely feedback included:

“A huge thankyou to the Trees For Life (SA) crew. Milang Campus Students had a fantastic time at the Finniss oval today.”

- (Jane Barker, Milang)

“The best part was getting myself covered in mud. I learned that you have to keep the environment safe.”

- (Bill Hammill, Milang) The event also included a talk on threatened plants by Kylie Moritz from the SA Murray Darling Basin NRM Board, and a group of Bush Action Team bushcare volunteers spent the day helping to protect the Nationally Vulnerable Silver Daisy Bush which occurs in bushland next to the oval.

This project is supported by the SA Murray-Darling Basin Natural Resources Management Board through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme and the NRM levy.

Top right: Students enjoy nature play and learning about different species by rotating through various activities.

Thelymitra ixioides (Spotted Sun-orchid)

Trees For Life Summer 2016 Number 139

Threatened flora project underway

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he Community Action for Threatened Flora project aims to involve the community in caring for and monitoring five threatened flora species from Goolwa to Monarto.

Since August, we have held nine full day Bush Action Team activities involving 33 different volunteers who have between them contributed over 315 hours of monitoring and bushcare effort. We have trained our staff and volunteers in threatened flora monitoring methods and we have established a method of capturing this monitoring data online.

Volunteers have reported that they have learnt new skills, enjoyed spending time with others, learnt to recognise threatened plants and appreciate their significance, and appreciated the opportunity to try something a bit different and see some different sites.

More activities will be held over the coming six months, so please get in touch if you’d like to participate.

Phone us on (08) 8406 0500 or email bfl@treesforlife.org.au

“I felt I was able to make a difference in the work to protect the site.”

“Interesting change of view point in order to save threatened species.”

Top: The nationally endangered Fat-leaf Wattle and above, volunteers involved in the threatened flora project.

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Our achievements 2015-16

Direct Seeding

900 ha direct seeded

Direct Seeding - a year in review

371 kgs of seed collected

Dennis Hayles

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783 supervised on-ground bushcare activities delivered

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approximately 120,000 volunteer hours

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016 has been the busiest year ever for the Direct Seeding Program. Throughout the year we: Employed Alex Mason to join the direct seeding team Collected more than 320 kilograms (kg) of seed Purchased and equipped two Case 65hp tractors and trailers and a third Polaris ATV Designed and fabricated a new direct seeding machine and modified our existing machines Fabricated equipment to carry out shielded spraying and fertiliser application simultaneously Direct seeded 1720 kilometres (km) of rows across 890 hectares (ha) of land using 860kg of seed Conducted weed control of 2020km of direct seeding rows using our ATV shielded spraying equipment.

Direct seeding at Noora Salt Interception Basin as part of the RMF Project.

Direct seeding rows at Noora. 210ha of restoration work is being undertaken.

Direct seeding floodplain at Banrock Station.

New team member Alex Mason batching up seed for Dakalanta.

Direct Seeding Manager David Hein ‘fixing broken things’ at Dakalanta.

Some of the bogs proved difficult to extricate vehicles from.

Working in tandem with the 3 Polaris ATVs fitted out for shielded spraying.

Collecting Acacia ligulata for the River Murray Forest (RMF) projects.

The coming year

with 65ha of direct seeding along the south coast of Yorke Peninsula as well as our Trees for Habitat restoration works in Monarto.

Our thanks go to our many volunteers working with us to collect seed, the generosity of donors allowing us to purchase equipment, and the various government grant programs and partnerships that bring our vision to fruition. Without you we could not continue.

A sweep across the state

451,000 + seedlings grown

6131 supporters

(members, volunteers and donors)

28 nationally threatened species and ecological communities helped

13 highly threatening weeds (WONS) controlled All icons from the Noun Project

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Trees For Life Summer 2016 Number 139

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TFL

We travelled 750km to Eyre Peninsula and Dakalanta Conservancy for the first time to conduct 450 hectares of direct seeding and 1600km of shielded spraying/fertiliser application as part of the Federal Government’s 20 Million Trees Project, being managed by Landcare Australia.

The terrain was the toughest we’ve encountered; a vast shallow limestone basin with literally hundreds of wombat warrens, rocky ground and bog holes.

This tested our equipment and required a mobile field workshop on-site and much lateral thinking to persevere.

The second 20 Million Trees project at Banrock Station in the Riverland saw over 90ha of direct seeding another first being restoration works on floodplain country, which will become inundated in the coming months with the rising River Murray water levels. The flooding of this work is something we’ll observe with great interest.

Our relationship with Southern Yorke Peninsula (SYP) continued also, with a further 65ha of seeding work and maintenance of nearly 400ha of restored land through various Federal grants.

With 2016 coming to a close there is no winding down for the direct seeding team. Preparations are under way to begin summer seed collection, with more than 400kg of seed required for 2017 projects. These include direct seeding 320ha near Swan Reach funded by the Federal Government’s 20 Million Trees Program.

Other projects include our on-going partnership with the SYP CAP group

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For Members

For Members

Christmas gifts help Trees For Life

E Pam Fiala accepts the Celebrate Age Award from SA Governor His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AC.

arth Greetings has again designed a boxed set of Christmas cards to support Trees For Life.

Each card pack purchased results in a native seedling being planted so you can remember friends and family at Christmas and still do a small bit for the environment.

The Christmas cards come in a boxed set of 10 (two of each design) for $18 including postage.

We also have Trees For Life calico bags on offer for $13 including postage.

Orders yours today using the flyer below!

Follow us on social media!

Trees For Life workshops

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f you are interested in becoming a volunteer on one of our Bush For Life sites or would like to learn more about managing your own bushland then come along to an Introductory Bush Regeneration Workshop. Phone (08) 8406 0500 to register for workshops.

D

o you want to keep up to date on Trees For Life news?

Want to know when we’re having events, get advice on weed and native species or simply follow what’s going on in the wider environmental sector?

By following our Facebook page you’ll get all of that and more.

We currently have more than 6000 followers on our social media platforms and would love to have you on-board.

Log in and like us today! (You can also see some of our beautiful photos on Instagram).

2017 Introductory bush regeneration workshops (B1)

Do you want more lottery books?

R Norm Lee with his award from the City of Onkaparinga.

Volunteers awards richly deserved

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ongratulations to two of Trees For Life’s longestserving volunteers on winning recent awards.

Pam Fiala received a Celebrate Age Award at an Adelaide Oval event and Norm Lee won a Civic Achievement Award from the City of Onkaparinga.

Pam, who is in her 80s, still helps to maintain a Bush For Life site in Mitcham. Norm is also a bushcarer but volunteers in other areas such as seed collecting.

Two amazing people who do a great deal for the environment - very much deserved!

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Trees For Life Summer 2016 Number 139

ecently, you should have received your Trees For Life lottery book(s) in the post.

If you have already sold your ticket allocation and would like to sell more, please contact our office as soon as possible. If you have already sold your tickets but have not yet returned them, please return ticket butts and money as soon as possible.

All tickets and money need to be returned by early February 2017. As well as the major prize of a week’s stay in an apartment in Paris with a $7000 travel voucher, there are many other wonderful prizes to be won.

Good luck in the draw!

Great time to top up on mulch

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ith the warmer months finally arriving, now is a good time to check your garden beds for mulch. Mulch helps with water conservation, stops the top of the soil drying out, prevents weeds and keeps the soil temperature constant. Organic mulch also improves soil structure and drainage – so there are a lot of great reasons to get excited about mulch!

The Trees For Life Westwood Nursery has 25L ‘all purpose, all natural’ bags of mulch available for $4.

Please contact us for further details on (08) 8406 0500 or info@treesforlife.org.au

Tuesday

February 14

Willunga

Saturday

March 4

Eden Hills

Friday

March 31

Marion

Saturday

April 8

Williamstown

Wednesday

April 26

Goolwa

Thursday

May 4

Mt Barker

Tuesday

May 30

Port Adelaide

Wednesday

June 7

Modbury

Tuesday

June 27

Burnside

Monday

July 10

Port Noarlunga

Saturday

July 29

Stirling

Thursday

August 10

Hahndorf

Thursday

August 31

Woodcroft

Monday

September 4

Gawler

Friday

September 29

Strathalbyn

Friday

October 13

Urrbrae

Saturday

November 4

Adelaide

Monday

November 27

Norton Summit

(Bush Action Team activities on Page 7). For more information on any of the above events, phone Trees For Life on (08) 8406 0500.

Seed collection workshops (SC1) Tuesday

January 10

Belair National Park

The workshop will be held in the volunteer centre from 9am until 3.30pm.

For more information phone Seedbank Manager Bruce Smith on (08) 8406 0500.

Do you need a seed collection permit?

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eed collection permits have recently been sent to Trees For Life members by Seedbank Manager Bruce Smith, covering the next 12 months.

If you have not received a permit and require one, please contact Bruce on (08) 8406 0500.

Correction

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he article in the last edition of ReLeaf about the passing of Enid Robertson was kindly written by Ann Prescott. Enid was on the editing committee of Stop Bushland Weeds.

In no way did we mean to imply that Enid wrote this book. Apologies for any confusion.

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Sponsors & Supporters

Service Directory

Sydney designers choose TFL as charity

Trees For Life Trees For Life, 5 May Tce, Brooklyn Park 5032 Ph: (08) 8406 0500 Fax: (08) 8406 0599 info@treesforlife.org.au www.treesforlife.org.au

T TFL Fundraising & Marketing Manager Angela Gordon with Booze Brothers’ Chairman Craig Williams at the annual charity presentation.

New landholder guide in 2017

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rees For Life will update its important landholder planting guide thanks to a donation from the Booze Brothers Staff Charitable Fund.

The fund started in 2002 to help a staff member who was seriously ill and has since grown to provide an ongoing commitment to charity.

Almost $600,000 has been raised and given to a range of South Australian charities.

The donation will help TFL review the Tree Scheme’s important landholder guide for planting for special purpose. The guide outlines useful tips for selecting species and designing revegetation to manage issues such as salinity, erosion, stock exposure and habitat loss.

Revegetation Services manager Vicki-Jo Russell said it was a valuable resource for landholders throughout the State.

“We are very grateful for the generous support of the Booze Brothers Staff Charitable Fund and all staff that contributed,” she said.

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rees For Life has been selected as one of the charities to benefit from an Australia-wide design project.

The Chairity Project – now in its third year - is the brainchild of furniture retailer Cult, who invites designers to reinvent an existing design to raise funds for a charity of their choice.

This year, 16 prestigious Sydney and Melbourne designers have taken part in the project. Each were asked to reinterpret the Officina chair – originally made in 2014 by French designers.

The ‘new’ chair designs are then for sale via an on-line auction, with proceeds going to the chosen charities.

We Are Tribe choice Trees For Life was lucky enough to have been selected as the charity of choice by Sydney-based designers Jessica Stewart and Christina Symes, from ‘We Are Tribe’. We Are Tribe has reworked the chair in wood and rattan to create a design that fits equally well in an office or home environment.

“By contributing our donation from the Chairity auction to Trees For Life, we hope to raise more awareness for their incredible community who aim to create dynamic, sustainable and native forests that will remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and provide multiple environmental benefits,” Jessica and Christina said.

Other designs as part of the event include a miniature silver chair charm by jeweller Adam Goodrum and a kangaroo-leather two-seater by Studio Twocan.

For more information or to see all designs visit www.cultdesign.com.au

Trees For Life Summer 2016 Number 139

Trees For Life Board President: David Mitchell Treasurer: Janine Mildren Board Members: Meera Verma, Sarah Van Maarseveen, Jim Humphrys, Tracey Shepard, Jess Hardy, Morgan Muirhead and Andy Lowe

Trees For Life Contacts

Sydney designers Jessica Stewart and Christina Symes from ‘We Are Tribe’ have selected Trees For Life as their chosen charity.

Chief Executive Officer: Natasha Davis Reveg Services Manager: Vicki-Jo Russell Bush For Life Manager: Amelia Hurren Fundraising + Marketing: Angela Gordon Direct Seeding Manager: David Hein TFL Works Manager: Matthew Endacott Office Manager: Julie Holloway TFL Carbon Manager: Dennis Hayles Seedbank Manager: Bruce Smith TFL Nursery: Cameron Pevie, Brett Oakes

Trees For Life Rural Gawler: Sylvia Nieuwenhuizen 8406 8419 Noarlunga: Graham Greaves 8386 1018 Willunga: Saskia Gerhardy 0412 135 698; Paul Rosser 8557 7483 Mt Gambier: Briony Schleuniger 8724 9759 Mt Pleasant: Ruth Charlesworth 8524 6661 Clare: Dean Schubert 8843 4317 Strathalbyn: Jo & Sue Scheiffers 7501 6006

Trees For Life Works professional services For government, business and private landholders: • Bushland management • Fuel reduction control • Roadside vegetation management • Woody weed control • Bulk seed collection • Revegetation and bushland buffering • Tubestock planting • Tubestock grown to order • Direct seeding using locally collected seed • Site visits and land management advice Call TFL on (08) 8406 0500 to arrange a quote.

Sponsor help As the need for statewide revegetation increases, Trees For Life (TFL) is looking to increase sponsorship across our programs. If you know a decision-maker, why not have a conversation about TFL and why you support us? Support can be financial or in-kind.

Please encourage them to contact our office on (08) 8406 0500 for a confidential chat.

Your generosity is appreciated

B

y remembering Trees For Life in your Will, you will be joining a unique group of people who have committed themselves to the future of our natural environment.

Many of you would be familiar with our Brooklyn Park nursery, known as the Betty Westwood Nursery. The establishment of this vital part of Trees For Life was only made possible by the generosity of a bequest from Betty. She was a founding member of Trees For Life in 1981 and like many of you, volunteered her time and expertise in raising seedlings, planting

trees and spreading the message of caring for our natural resources.

Like Betty, your Bequest will reflect the passion you have for our environment and will serve for generations to come in protecting wildlife habitat and environmental biodiversity. As such, your legacy will endure well into the future.

Every gift makes a difference.

Advising us of your bequest If you are considering leaving a gift to Trees For Life in your Will, please contact Anthea Mur on (08) 8406 0500 or antheam@treesforlife.org.au to let us know, so we can answer any questions you may have and thank you for your thoughtful gift.

Save money on your energy bills

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nterested in saving money on your energy bills?

Did you know that free home energy assessments are available for people holding concession and seniors cards as well as participants of an energy retailer hardship program?

The Retailer Energy Efficiency Scheme (REES) is a South Australian Government initiative that requires larger energy retailers to help households and businesses save energy.

A Trees For Life supporter – David Whiting – is paid by energy retailers to undertake these assessments, and has offered to make a donation to Trees For Life for each assessment undertaken for Trees For Life supporters.

The energy assessment will include checking your hot water system, using a meter to work out the running costs of appliances, and recommending the most effective heating and cooling appliances. Another benefit of participating in the program is having access to energy efficient appliances such as free low flow shower heads, Standby Power Controllers and door seals and heavily subsidised and affordable low energy lighting replacements including LED down lights and LED bulbs. Trees For Life will also receive a donation for each LED replaced. If you are NOT eligible for REES, the fee for a home energy assessment is $125 + GST of which $25 will be donated to Trees For Life.

A more comprehensive energy review including diagnosis of billing consumption over time, meter reading and recording and providing a comprehensive energy efficiency action plan will cost $250 + GST, of which $50 will be donated to Trees For Life.

Businesses that use less than 160 MW/h per year are also eligible for a very heavily subsidised commercial lighting upgrade under REES which will reduce their carbon foot print and increase profitability and lead to yet another donation being made to Trees For Life from this promotion by David Whiting Energy Solutions.

David is happy to travel to regional areas too! If you would like more information, please contact him on 0417 878 413.

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Weeds are a serious threat!

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hen you think of weeds you might just think they’re prickly, annoying and timeconsuming.

But did you know that weeds are a very serious problem indeed?

Many plants introduced into Australia in the last 200 years are now weeds. In Australia, weeds are spreading faster than they can be controlled and management of them is consuming an enormous amount of resources.

They are now among the most serious threats to Australia’s natural environment and primary production industries. Weeds have major economic, environmental and social impacts in Australia, causing damage to natural landscapes, agricultural lands, waterways and coastal areas.

They are destroying native habitats, threatening native plants and animals and choking our natural systems including rivers and forests.

It is estimated that weeds cost Australian farmers around $1.5 billion a year in weed control activities and a further $2.5 billion a year in lost agricultural production.

And of the 10 new weeds recorded in Australia each year, two thirds are escaped garden plants!

If you want to know more about identifying and controlling weeds, visit www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/ invasive/weeds/index.html And don’t forget to colour-in these fantastic pictures, designed by the City of Onkaparinga through its Urban Creek Recovery Project! (find originals in Kids Branch on our website, colour them in and we’ll publish them!). Find out more about the project on Page 3.

Trees For Life. 5 May Tce, Brooklyn Park, SA, 5032. (08) 8406 0500 www.treesforlife.org.au