March 2017 releaf

Autumn 2017 Issue 141

Labour of love heals KI property Annual garden sale in May Properties wanted for habitat projects

President’s Message

Our volunteers define us and our character

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e certainly live in interesting times. I’ll resist the temptation to comment on recent world events except to say that the future has become increasingly unclear and more challenging than ever. At such times many of us look for a level of clarity and constancy often found in the family environment or local community.

I often think Trees For Life is much like a family with its challenges but sharing a sense of purpose and direction that enables us to continue to grow.

We offer the community and concerned individuals the opportunity to participate in and support a range of meaningful activities.

Volunteers are our lifeblood. Some have been with us for years, others are newbies, but the time, effort and expertise that they all give are highly valued and make Trees For Life a very special organisation.

Without our volunteers not only would we be unable to do what we do but we’d also be less of an agent of change within the community. Our wonderful volunteers define us and our character.

In return volunteering promotes a sense of wellbeing through being involved in a meaningful cause and meeting like-minded people.

For over 30 years our flagship program, the Tree Scheme, has relied on volunteer growers and enabled TFL to become part of the social fabric of South Australia. Delivering over 32 million low cost, high quality seedlings to landholders across the state, the scheme provides opportunities for backyard growers to take positive action to help restore the bush. Last year there were nearly 600 volunteer growers continuing a long tradition of active community engagement.

TFL just wouldn’t be the same without its vollies!

Our largest program is Bush For Life, with 1200 registered volunteers working on 318 bushland sites. We train and support recruits to care for remnant native bushland using minimal disturbance bushcare techniques.

It’s often back-breaking work requiring considerable patience before results are realised but it’s also contributing to the conservation and nurture of our natural heritage. It’s also extremely satisfying when dramatic improvements to the local environment are seen over time.

If you have the chance to view ‘before and after’ shots of some of the sites you’ll be amazed at what a small group of enthusiastic volunteers can achieve.

Our volunteers work across a range of activities and bring a range of skills and experience.

They collect, dry and weigh seed, they answer telephones and handle queries, they service tools and equipment, our nursery would be in difficulty without them and distribution day is dependent upon volunteers in depots right across the state. TFL just wouldn’t be the same without its vollies!

Neither would we be viable without the individuals and organisations that support us. Donors and sponsors continue to give generously in support of our on-ground activities and, by extension, our volunteers.

From time to time we benefit from corporate volunteering with companies encouraging employees to make a community contribution through on-ground activities such as tree planting or weeding. The support of our donors and sponsors is truly wonderful and highly valued by all at Trees For Life.

Thank you all for your generosity.

- David Mitchell

The (Blue) Devil is in the detail

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rees For Life volunteers and staff were rewarded recently with the exciting discovery of the rare Blue Devil (Eryngium ovinum) at a Bush For Life site near Mount Barker.

This spectacular plant is rated Vulnerable in South Australia and is threatened by habitat loss, grazing, weeds and spraying.

The bushland site, under BFL care since 2004, has been at risk from various recreational activities. Mount Barker District Council and TFL staff and volunteers have worked hard to protect the site over the years, installing signage and barriers to prevent access.

Finding this bushland treasure is a wonderful example of the impact that our volunteers make every day to protect and conserve the unique biodiversity of Australia.

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 100% Recycled.

Carbon Neutral IS014001 Environment Management Systems.

Find us on: Want to advertise?

Advertising space is now available in ReLeaf. Phone (08) 8406 0500 or email taniak@treesforlife.org.au Cover Photo: Three generations of volunteers by Tania Kearney.

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

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Trees For Life Autumn 2017 Number 141

Three generations grow with TFL

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rees For Life has thousands of dedicated and passionate volunteers all working to help and improve our State’s environment.

And as the years have gone by, we’ve been fortunate to have second and third generations of TFL members and supporters growing up with us.

One such family is Joy Forrest, her daughter Palitja Moore and grand daughter Ida Moore (featured on this edition’s ReLeaf cover).

Joy and Palitja joined Trees For Life in 1993 and immediately signed up as volunteer growers. Twenty-four years later, these Gold Members have had just one year off.

They have grown anything from six boxes to 10 boxes (300-500 seedlings a year) for revegetation projects and landholders throughout SA. “We’ve always had an interest in the environment and always thought about having a great property which we could revegetate but as that didn’t eventuate, the next best thing was helping landholders revegetate by growing native seedlings for them,” Joy said.

A family affair As they all live together in Willunga, it’s also very much a family affair with responsibilities shared between them.

It’s been a natural progression for sixteen-year-old Ida who, according to her mum Palitja, planted her first tree at just three years of age.

“We always lived near Aldinga Scrub and she was always out in bushland from a very young age,” Palitja said.

All are also members of the Friends of Aldinga Scrub and it’s not unusual for Ida to help explain native species to visitors on regular hikes.

Ida has taken her love of the Australian environment and now plans to make a career of it. She was a founding member of the Willungabased group YACCA (Youth And Community in Conservation Action).

YACCA comprises a group of dedicated young environmentalists aged 12-19 years who connect with community groups and help develop projects that protect and maintain environmental welfare.

Last year Ida was also joint winner of the Conservation Council of SA’s Youth Achiever Award for her work in sustainability and ecology. And this year she will undertake a VET course in Year 11 in Conservation and Land Management.

Trees For Life would like to sincerely thank all of our volunteers – whether they be volunteer growers, bushcarers, seed collectors, fundraisers or office workers. As we head into a new year, we remain extremely appreciative of those who have given up their time over the years to help care for our precious environment, and look forward to working alongside you all in 2017.

Butterfly kits now available

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he best way to bring native butterflies back to your garden is to grow butterfly habitat – ensuring there is food for caterpillars and adult butterflies in your local area.

Many of these plants are available through our Westwood nursery and, for bigger projects, ‘Butterfly - Start From Seed Kits’ are now available.

Start From Seed Kits can be ordered at any time of year and provide all the soil, material and seeds you need to grow 50 seedlings (up to two species per box).

A range of suitable trees, shrubs, groundcovers, grasses and reeds offered through the Tree Scheme are available.

A copy of the ‘Butterfly - Start From Seed Kit’ order form is available at www.treesforlife.org.au. Call (08) 8406 0500 or email info@treesforlife.org.au for more information.

What’s on…

March 28

Seed collection workshop @ Belair NP

March 31

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Marion

April 8

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Williamstown

April 11

Sampson Flat Bushfire Recovery activity @ Millbrook

April 21

Group seed collection day @ Monarto

April 21

Sampson Flat Bushfire Recovery activity @ Inglewood

April 26

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Goolwa

April 28-30

Back-up stock available for Tree Scheme

May 1

Tree Scheme orders open

May 4

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Mount Barker

May 10-11

Community Action For Threatened Flora activity @ Nurragi

May 19

Sampson Flat Bushfire Recovery activity @ Kersbrook

May 25-27

Annual garden plant sale

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

July 1

Registrations open for volunteer growers

July 10

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Port Noarlunga

July 29

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Stirling

August 10

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Hahndorf

August 31

Intro bush regen w-shop @ Woodcroft

Come ‘n Try Bushcare Days on Page 4. For more information on any of the above events, phone Trees For Life on (08) 8406 0500.

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Labour of love helps heal KI property Michael McKelvey

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uricata is a synonym for health and prosperity.

Muricata is also the name of a property on the MacGillivary Plains of Kangaroo Island that has become an example of nature’s resilience, thanks to the efforts of owner and Trees For Life member Darryl McNeil.

“When I acquired the land in 2006, it was degraded paddocks with a 50year history of marginal agriculture.

There was every bug and weed known to this part of the island,” Darryl said.

“Dryland salinity was well established and the property is high up on a major drainage point.

Everything happening here was being passed on to properties downstream.”

Before taking on Muricata, Darryl had spent his working life in the health industry. The unexpected onset of type 1 diabetes and the initial depression and anxiety resulting from this event shifted his focus as a healer for people to a healer of the land.

“I learned that ecological triage is not too different to that in an emergency room,” he said.

“I needed a quick assessment of damage, stabilisation and then begin the journey to recovery.”

A community biologist and volunteers from Conservation Volunteers Australia initially helped by developing test holes to measure salinity depth and concentration, establish permanent survey transects/ quadrats and establish a base line data register for exotic and native plant, invertebrate and vertebrate diversity for the property.

‘Grim’ first years Darryl said the first years were “grim”. During the dry season the weed infested soil sparkled with surface crystals formed by evaporating salts. The only visible soil disturbance was from tunnel digging spiders, goannas and an occasional echidna.

He set about scouring remnant vegetation on the plains for local provenance native grass seed and colonising plants tolerant of saline conditions. His landscape was so fragile that all seeding was done by hand; seed scattered directly over the disturbed goanna and echidna digs.

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Working hard on Muricata, clockwise from top left, the propagation shelter on the property, some of the species that have been planted and monitoring self-seeded Grevillea muricata.

Within two seasons native grasses were established and spreading.

Colonising species tube stock was introduced and a process of containment started on the edges of the dryland salinity areas.

“Within a couple of years the bug surveys showed a marked shift from agricultural bugs to native habitat invertebrates,” he said.

“This is a small indicator that is easily overlooked but I knew the healing had begun. Native invertebrates are specialist and they are critical to the health of the native systems and productivity. As the processes have continued I have extended tube stock to include edible native and economic value plants for future harvest.”

Darryl joined Trees For Life in 2007 and has ordered around 50,000 native seedlings – the majority being raised by long-term growers Karen Walker and Dean Overton – over an eightyear period.

“Trees For Life helped with special orders. After five years of intensive

Trees For Life Autumn 2017 Number 141

yearly planting there was a solid mix of native grassland, shrubland and woodland species. My management plan was copied from nature.”

Darryl said he was delighted to find remnant bushes of Grevillea muricata (the plant that inspired the property name) were spreading naturally.

“We continue with community based monitoring and each year surveys show an impressive and ever increasing survival rate of self-seeded native species. As the native habitats establish and spread, the feral plants are contained and some weed species are now no longer competing as the soil chemistry returns to preagriculture soil conditions.”

Muricata is now home to healthy native habitats, the winter wetlands boast native species of amphibians and some still to be classed invertebrates. The Rosenberg’s goanna and echidna populations are increasing along with several bird and marsupial species that have not been seen in the area for decades.

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.

Intro Bush Regeneration workshops (B1)

Do you need backup seedlings?

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f you are a volunteer grower or growing for yourself, and have fallen short of the order - never fear! Backup seedlings are available and will be ready to collect from our Westwood Nursery April 28-30.

If you are growing for a landholder it is your responsibility to collect backup seedlings (if required) so you can hand over a complete order. If you are growing for yourself please note that some grow-your-own species will not be available through back-up but we will do our best with available stock.

If you are growing for someone else it would be helpful to discuss suitable replacement stock with them before coming in for back-up. Phone us on (08) 8406 0500.

Plants on show at Writers’ Week

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fter two successful years Trees For Life again provided seedlings for Adelaide Writers’ Week. We hope you has a chance to see them!

The Westwood Nursery grew around 4500 native plants for stage backdrops and entrance features throughout the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden site.

The seedlings were for sale at the event and will be available at our nursery during our retail season which starts with our annual garden sale May 25-27.

Friday

March 31

Marion

Saturday

April 8

Williamstown

Wednesday

April 26

Goolwa

Thursday

May 4

Mount Barker

Tuesday

May 30

Port Adelaide

Wednesday

June 7

Modbury

Tuesday

June 27

Burnside

Monday

July 10

Port Noarlunga

Saturday

July 29

Stirling

Come and Try Bushcare Days Wednesday

April 5

Tea Tree Gully

Friday

April 7

Eden Hills

Tuesday

April 11

Millbrook (SFBF)*

Thursday

April 13

Hahndorf

Wednesday

April 19

Wattle Park

Friday

April 21

Inglewood (SFBF)*

Thursday

April 27

Crafers

Saturday

April 29

Eden Hills

Wednesday

May 3

Wattle Park

Friday

May 5

Lonsdale

Wed-Thurs

May 10-11

Nurragi (CATP)*

Saturday

May 13

St Agnes

Wednesday

May 17

Coromandel Valley

Friday

May 19

Kersbrook (SFBF)*

Wednesday

May 31

Pasadena

Friday

June 2

Barabba

Thursday

June 8

Lonsdale

Saturday

June 10

Victor Harbor

* SFBF - Sampson Flat Bushfire Recovery; * CATP - Community Action for Threatened Flora Program

Seed Collection Workshop Tuesday

March 28

Belair National Park

April 21

Meet at Monarto

Seed Collection Day Friday

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Annual garden sale on again in May

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wide range of quality native seedlings, including trees, shrubs, groundcovers, grasses and reeds, will again be available at our annual garden sale.

The seedlings are suitable for gardens around the Adelaide metropolitan area, hills and surrounds. Members receive a discount on garden sale and surplus back up seedlings from the Tree Scheme. If you are not currently a member and have a big ‘wish list’ we are happy to sign you up on the day so you can access the great savings.

If you would like some tips on putting together your plant list, Natural Resources, Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges, has produced a range of urban native planting guides. These guides profile plants for backyard, coastal and wildlife gardens. For more information visit www.naturalresources.sa.gov. au./adelaidemtloftyranges (urban biodiversity).

The garden sale will be held May 25-27 at our Westwood Nursery (cnr of Sir Donald Bradman Drive and May Terrace) between 10am-1pm.

For a full species list visit Trees For Life’s website www.treesforlife.org.au.

Please note some species may sell out quickly so get in early.

Clematis microphylla

Help plant on the Fleurieu this year!

Correa glabra

Goodenia albiflora

Help needed for bushfire recovery

D Themeda triandra

o you want to help in the protection of South Australia’s flora? Or help bushland sites recover after the Sampson Flat bushfire?

Trees For Life is hosting several activities in April and May and is seeking more participants.

The Sampson Flat fire destroyed 38 homes and burnt out 12,000 hectares of land including eight Bush For Life sites. And while the recovery of native species post-fire has been amazing, help is now needed to manage weed germination and regrowth.

Bushfire recovery activities will be held on April 11 at Millbrook, April 21 at Inglewood and May 19 at Kersbrook.

These activities are funded by the Adelaide Hills Council.

Threatened flora Scaevola albida

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State’s most threatened native plants as part of our new Community Action for Threatened Flora project. A twoday activity will be held in Nurragi Conservation Reserve on May 10-11, focusing primarily on Acacia pinguifolia (Fat-leaf Wattle).

Bat expert Chris Grant will also be giving a talk on the local bat fauna in the evening. More details to come!

This project is supported by Natural Resources, SA Murray-Darling Basin.

For more information or to register your interest phone (08) 8406 0500.

Volunteers are also needed to help care for and monitor some of the

Trees For Life Autumn 2017 Number 141

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olunteer tree planters are invited to help out on the Fleurieu Peninsula this year.

The tree planting group is a vital service for landholders who may otherwise be unable to revegetate their property.

There will be approximately 10 plantings, generally every Sunday from May to September, in any weather. Activities will run from 10am-1pm, followed by a delicious luncheon provided by the landholder.

It is a great opportunity to see different locations you wouldn’t normally have access to and meet like-minded people.

For more information or to obtain a copy of the planting schedule phone TFL Planting Coordinator Bunti Pellen on (08) 7329 2889 or 042 901 6335 or email bunti@adam.com.au (please don’t contact after 7pm SundayThursday).

Some of the great volunteer tree planters from 2016. More volunteers are needed this year.

Landholders wanted for habitat restoration projects

TFL founders sell ‘Wandendi’

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rees For Life wants to hear from landholders who own large land allotments and are interested in habitat restoration on their properties, particularly those in the Swan-ReachBlanchetown region.

TFL’s Direct Seeding Program is currently working with Landcare Australia in the area as part of Federal Government’s 20 Million Trees project.

This follows on from previous successful projects with Landcare Australia, providing on-ground restoration services at Dakalanta Conservancy on Eyre Peninsula and Banrock Station in the Riverland.

The current ‘Murray to Mallee’ project aims to restore cleared and heavily grazed land into a mallee association linking the river with remnant vegetation further to the west. The direct seeding team will plant 320ha this year, using around 20 species including eucalypts, melaleuca, dodonaea, acacia, salt bushes and grasses.

Sandwiched between the River Murray and a number of remnant habitat conservation areas to the west, the area was once part of Portee Station, since destocked and sold in allotments.

Importantly, it features a number of nationally and state rated flora and fauna species, perhaps most notably the Regent Parrot (eastern). The Regent Parrot (eastern) is currently listed as Vulnerable under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) and the South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. These birds roost and nest in hollows along the river, but may forage many kilometres into mallee scrub to feed on plant seeds, buds and flowers in the mallee setting.

The vulnerable Regent Parrot (eastern).

The current project area will be concluded in 2018, however more landholders are sought for future expansion of the habitat restoration.

Trees For Life will keep a register of interest with the aim of matching future funding opportunities to appropriate landholdings.

For more information on the Swan Reach-Blanchetown restoration target zone visit treesforlife.org.au or to register your general interest as a SA landholder phone us on (08) 8406 0500.

West Torrens native plant giveaway

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ach year the City of West Torrens Council offers residents the opportunity to take home 12 native plants for their gardens.

This year the plants are being grown by our Westwood Nursery and we are keen to see them go to a loving home.

The event is planned for Saturday June 3, so if you are a West Torrens resident keep an eye out for more information leading up to the event and tell your neighbours!

Visit the West Torrens City Council website or email info@treesforlife.org.au for more information.

his superb Wistow property is up for sale. Over the past 35 years the 20 acre (8ha) haven has been transformed from an empty paddock to a natural park, with love and care.

The land is undulating, featuring creek, dam and 12 large original River Red Gums.

As founding members of Trees For Life the owners grew many of the other trees, shrubs and grasses from seed themselves.

Direct seeding was undertaken in less accessible areas of the property.

Bush weeding has eliminated many undesirable plants and encouraged natural regeneration of native vegetation. Great for bird-watching, kangaroos, turtles in the dam, lizards, frogs and other native fauna.

The property is situated 10 minutes from Mount Barker and close to Strathalbyn, wineries and wetlands.

It features a three-bedroom ‘Sarah Homes’ Streeton design, erected in 2005. Solar panels provide all power with surplus giving a rebate.

Other features include rainwater tanks, self-contained sewage system and two large sheds.

For more information contact Angela Bannon on 0416 232 656 or (08) 8232 4985, ambannon@internode.on.net

The stunning Wandendi property near Mount Barker is up for sale.

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2017 order season opens from May 1

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Participants in TFL’s new Regenerate program, Jake McDonald, left, and Martin Scott, at Hahndorf’s Yantaringa Reserve. Photo courtesy The Courier, Mount Barker.

‘Regenerate’ valued by health partners

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egenerate is a new Trees For Life program which promotes wellbeing by volunteering in nature.

Partnering with MIFSA (Mental Illness Fellowship SA), Neami National, SA Health, The Australian Refugee Association, Community Living Australia and Baptist Care Australia, the program helps people living with mental illness and disability connect with nature and experience the associated health benefits.

Research has shown that mental wellbeing can be greatly improved through nature immersion, learning about local biodiversity, gentle exercise, fresh air and sunshine.

Regenerate has also helped participants create social connections and experience the satisfaction that comes from volunteering.

It aligns with the State Government’s ‘Healthy Parks, Healthy People strategy, focusing on the mental health benefits of contact with nature.

This strategy recognises that contact with nature is a way to not only address mental illness, but to minimise its onset.

In other words, spending time in nature acts like both a vitamin to keep us healthy, as well as a medicine when we are unwell.

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Over the last six months, we have held 12 Regenerate activities involving 70 participants.

A recent partner workshop highlighted very positive outcomes.

Participants reported feeling feeling more calm, relaxed and engaged after the activity, even a day or two later.

Some participants were also actively recruiting other people in their peer group.

We were heartened by the positive feedback and the strong feeling from partner organisations that Regenerate is a valuable program which should be continued.

Regenerate was established by Trees For Life with a grant from the Department for Communities & Social Inclusion through the Fund My Community program.

We are currently looking for avenues to fund the program in future.

Trees For Life Autumn 2017 Number 141

rees For Life’s annual ordering season opens May 1 and runs through to July 31. Species lists suitable to your region can be downloaded at www.treesforlife.org.au.

Last year we offered 237 different species across the State including a wide choice of trees, shrubs, grasses and groundcovers. The Tree Scheme offers a plant for every job, including windbreaks, soil and salinity management, attracting pollinators, creating wildlife habitat and much more.

If you are not sure what or how many to order, we are happy to help!

Discounts still apply to landholders and residents affected by the Pinery Fire, and schools and community groups across the State thanks to our partners Viterra and Glencore Grain, NAB and Tree Scheme sponsors.

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

TFL Bequest Pins are on their way

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f you have left a gift to Trees For Life in your Will and have notified us of this generosity, we will soon be in contact to ensure you receive your unique Bequest Pin. Your thoughtful action of leaving a bequest will guarantee the future of Trees For Life and the protection of our natural South Australian environment.

We encourage you to wear your special lapel pin as much as possible to help us promote the power of Bequest giving.

If you have any queries about leaving a gift to Trees For Life in your Will or making a transformational gift, please contact Anthea Mur on 8406 0500 or antheam@treesforlife.org.au

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