Spring 2015 Issue 136
New CEO and Board members Local provenance theory tested Habitat program helps Malleefowl
President’s Message
General News
“The party’s over; it’s time to call it a day” ... well not quite yet!
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n the June edition of ReLeaf I indicated that I would be stepping down as President in October and commended Natasha Davis to you as a well-qualified successor. By the time ReLeaf went to print those plans were effectively in disarray. A former British prime minister, when asked the most difficult thing about his job, famously replied “Events, dear boy, events!” Our event was the resignation for health and personal reasons of Greg Boundy our CEO which necessitated some considered, decisive and timely action from the Board. I can report that after due and careful consideration and a specially convened extraordinary meeting the Board appointed Natasha Davis as Trees For Life’s new Chief Executive Officer effective from Monday June 15. So within a month we lost a CEO, identified a ready-made replacement and in the process lost a Vice President destined to become President. “Events, dear boy, events”. The departure of Greg Boundy presented a pressing management challenge for the organisation and one we soon recognised Natasha Davis was well-qualified to take up. So, following an eventful period the Board was delighted to announce Natasha’s appointment and looks forward to building upon the already strong relationships she has forged with the organisation and its stakeholders. Joining the Board in 2010 she became Vice President two years ago, making a number of key contributions in that role. Working closely with the Board and the leadership group she was instrumental in the development of a new strategic plan and engaged in revitalising our sponsorship and fundraising programs; her knowledge of the organisation and its direction combined with her energy, passion and enthusiasm for the task made her an ideal candidate. In appointing her as CEO the Board is confident it has made a wise decision enabling a relatively seamless transition although scuppering our Presidential succession plan. Consequently I intend offering myself for re-election at the October AGM. The Board’s judgement is that the importance of maintaining a level of continuity and stability in what are challenging times outweighs some slight embarrassment caused by a change of plan. My apologies for sounding a little like Dame Nellie Melba and, if re-elected by the membership, I give every assurance that I’ll be working hard to ensure that our work continues and that we do so with energy, imagination and adaptability. At the same time we are seeking to augment the range of skills available to the Board; to that end we recently co-opted Professor Andrew Lowe from Adelaide University to enhance our scientific credentials and winemaker Jess Hardy and continue to look for candidates with skills in business, human relations and marketing. In closing I’d like to remind you that our AGM will be held at Trees For Life on Thursday October 22 from 6pm. Professor Andrew Lowe will be our guest speaker on the topic “Seed sourcing strategies for revegetation in a fragmented and changing environment”. See you there!
DAVID MITCHELL AM President
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Trees For Life Spring 2015 Number 136
Different pollination for pycnantha BRETT OAKES
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olden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) is Australia’s national floral emblem – and undoubtedly one of Australia’s most widely recognised and known native plant species. What you may not know about this species however, is that their bright beautiful flowers are largely ignored by birds. Instead, the plant features glands at the base of its leaves or phyllode which secrete a surgary fluid during flowering, and this attracts the birds – in fact around 12 species such as silvereyes, honeyeaters and thornbills. So while you may think the birds are focusing on the flowers, they are pollinating the plant by ‘accidently’ brushing over the flowers with their feathered bodies!
Find us on: 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: Image and Substance Printing: Finsbury Green
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: Eutaxia microphylla by Peter Watton.
Trees For Life 5 May Tce, Brooklyn Park 5032 Ph: 8406 0500 Fax: 8406 0599 info@treesforlife.org.au www.treesforlife.org.au
Challenging but exciting time ahead
What’s on… Oct 10 - Intro bush regen w-shop @ Burnside
NATASHA DAVIS
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have been CEO since late June and it has been a fabulous whirlwind of activity. As our President David Mitchell mentioned on Page 1, the best laid plans often go off track! While I was preparing to be the President of TFL, the opportunity to take on the role of CEO arose and I wholeheartedly embraced it. I joined the Trees For Life board in 2010 when my son was two years old and my daughter just a few months. I have worked in environmental and natural resource management areas for 20 years, and I was looking for an opportunity to contribute my skills to an organisation I felt passionate about and something my family could also participate in (we have been volunteer growers for a number of years). As a previous Board member I think I have been able to hit the ground running, although of course there is still much to learn as I get to know the organisation more deeply. I have been warmly welcomed by all staff and the volunteers I have met and feel excited about coming to work each day. However, I have stepped into this role at a particularly challenging time for Trees For Life. We face a tough year financially; so it is more important than ever that we provide value to members, funding partners and sponsors. Like the natural world, organisations must adapt and seize on opportunities in order to survive and thrive so I will briefly mention two important pieces of work we are undertaking at present.
Flagship program Patrick O’Connor (a former Board member and highly regarded NRM specialist) is helping us ensure the Tree Scheme Program - which has faced declining orders for many years - is well positioned to thrive into the future. This is our flagship program at TFL and not only delivers cost effective native plants to landholders, it provides a unique linkage between the city and the bush.
Keeping BFL strong While Bush For Life continues to
Oct 14 - Grower w-shops until Oct 31 (see Page 6) Oct 22 - TFL AGM @ Brooklyn Park from 6pm Oct 22 - Grass ID w-shop @ Brooklyn Park Oct 24
New Trees For Life CEO Natasha Davis. operate strongly - protecting precious remnant bushland by harnessing the power of our devoted volunteers – we also need to ensure the program has the support of our funding partners into the future. Through a focused review process, we are meeting with all our partners to learn more about what they value about Bush For Life and how we can make it even stronger. I look forward to meeting many more of you and encourage you to get along to our AGM this year.
New living walls for Writers Week
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rees For Life has again been invited to establish living walls as part of Adelaide Writers Week 2016. This year 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 February 27 to March 3. Last year’s living walls comprised two stage backdrops, an entrance arch and information desk, which featured 35 different species. Organisers decided on the concept as they wanted the audience “to engage with their surrounding environment”. Adelaide Writers week – which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2016 – will feature a range of Australian and overseas writers and thinkers including renowned climate change writer, Professor Tim Flannery. Professor Flannery will also be a guest speaker at a Trees For Life event early in the new year.
Grass ID w-shop @ Brooklyn Park
Oct 29 - Seed collection w-shop @ Belair NP Nov 5 - Group seed collection day @ Monarto South Nov 15 - Distribution depots throughout SA Dec 2 - TFL Christmas Party Dec 16 - Bush For Life Xmas picnic Feb -
Seed replacement ends
Feb 17 - TFL Lottery drawn Feb 27 - Adelaide Writers Week Festival until March 3 (Bush Action Team activities on Page 8). For more information. on any of the above events, phone Trees For Life on (08) 8406 0500.
Stop Press: Flannery to be TFL guest!
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rofessor Tim Flannery will be guest speaker at a special event to be hosted by Trees For Life in early 2016. Professor Flannery is one of Australia’s leading writers on climate change and is an internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer and conservationist. He was named Australian of the Year in 2007. Professor Flannery will be in Adelaide during Adelaide Writers Week 2016. One of the books he will be discussing is his new publication ‘Atmosphere of Hope: Searching for solutions to the climate crisis’. Stay tuned for more details.
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General News
Adelaide corporates get their hands dirty
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ne of Trees For Life’s newest Board members, Professor Andy Lowe, will be the guest speaker at our Annual General Meeting on October 22. ‘Seed sourcing strategies for revegetation in a fragmented and changing environment’ will be the topic of his talk. Professor Lowe and winemaker Jess Hardy have both been invited to join the Trees For Life Board, bringing with them a range of new skills which will be invaluable as we move forward. Under the constitution the Board has the power to co-opt members to assist in the performance and execution of its powers and duties. Prof Lowe is Chair of Plant Conservation Biology, Deputy Dean - Partnerships and Collaboration in the Faculty of Science, and Director of the Centre for Conservation Science and Technology at the University of Adelaide. He is also Principal Advisor - Biodiversity Research Partnerships for the South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources. At the University, Prof Lowe leads a group of 40 scientists, has leveraged over $100M funding over the last 10 years and has published over 200 scientific publications. Jess Hardy comes from a very well-known and highly respected SA family. Her grandmother, Barbara Hardy, is a founder of numerous environmental foundations and a Life Member of Trees For Life. Jess is the winemaker for Loom Wine, a small family owned winery in McLaren Vale. She hopes to assist TFL with sponsorship and handson volunteering. You can meet our newest Board members – and existing Board members – at the AGM at Trees For Life’s Brooklyn Park office from 6pm. Please RSVP on (08) 8406 0500.
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ell done to the great staff at the Adelaide Convention Centre and Adelaide Bank who participated in two corporate planting days with Trees For Life recently. It was the sixth year the Adelaide Convention Centre’s planting crew – comprising staff and family members – gave back to the environment. And for the third year in a row, their planting day was held on Janet and Erinn Klein’s property, Ngeringa Wines. Ngeringa Wines is a biodynamic vineyard and farm at Mt Barker Springs. The crew planted more than 400 seedlings on the day and were also able to check on the progress of seedlings they’d planted in previous years. A group of Adelaide Bank staff held their first planting day at ‘Arcadia’, a 24-hectare property owned jointly by long-term TFL members Doug and Olga Farnill and TFL. The group planted around 300 seedlings. Adelaide Bank has been sponsoring Trees For Life for the past year. For every customer who changes to electronic billing, the company funds the planting of a tree. Both organisations take their Corporate Social Responsibility seriously and are particularly focused on helping the environment. Well done to all involved!
Do you have email?
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rees For Life’s preferred means of communication with member and volunteers into the future is email. Communication via email is simpler, quicker, saves paper, trees and substantial costs to the organisation. We estimate savings of approximately $50,000 per year and any savings will support our existing on ground works. If you’d like to start receiving communications through email please contact us on info@treesforlife.org.au or phone us on (08) 8406 0500.
Trees For Life Spring 2015 Number 136
Enjoying time out with nature on planting days as part of their organisations’ Social Corporate Responsibility are Adelaide Bank staff (top two photos) and Adelaide Convention Centre staff (bottom two).
General News
Members, volunteers maintain passion
A star (plant) is born – Tree Scheme plants that aren’t ‘famous’, but should be!
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PHIL BAGUST
Trees For Life’s Tree Scheme has always tried to offer a wide range of plants for each of its zones. Trees aren’t enough – shrubs, herbs, groundcovers, climbers and grasses should all be part of a successful revegetation mix. But plants are like people, some are just natural celebrities while others are real wallflowers that struggle to make friends. For instance everybody knows and loves the mighty River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), it’s an Australian icon, and a consistently heavily ordered plant in our Tree Scheme. Plants like this don’t need extra PR, but there are many other plants that are rarely ordered by growers, not because they aren’t beautiful, interesting or important, but just because they aren’t well known. This column tries to redress that imbalance. There are lots of ‘pea’ flowered plants - members of the Fabaceae offered as part of Trees For Life’s tree scheme. The Fabaceae range from large trees and shrubs, to climbers, runners, through to tiny herbs. Of course our wattles (Acacias) are part of this family, but their clustered yellow flowers are quite atypical of the family as a whole, even if their seed pods are not. Other well-loved family members offered by TFL include more typically complex, asymmetrical and colourful flowers - the native Lilac (Hardenbergia violacea), Native Lotus (Lotus australis) and Running Postman (Kennedia prostrata). But there are also many other Peaflowered plants that are much less well known. Take the unfortunately named Bitter Peas (Daviesias). Calling something ‘bitter’ perhaps isn’t a great branding exercise but since we want to admire the plant and not eat it, let’s move along! These shrubs grow in a wide range of environments, mainly in the better watered parts of the state on well drained soils, but a few grow in quite
Stunning Bitter Peas - Daviesias. From top, Daviesia leptophylla and Daviesia ulicifolia. dry and harsh environments as well. They include some truly unusual and beautiful species that deserve to be much better known. Some are small to mid-sized woody shrubs with small leaves and the kind of yellow-orange pea flowers familiar to lovers of more common ‘bush peas’ like Eutaxias and Pulteneas, but others have standout leafless habits with green wiry stems and beautiful spring flowers in unique claret and purple colours that can totally cover the plant. Eventually flowers form typical pea pods containing a number of hard seeds. And, like all peas, Daviesias have a special arrangement with bacteria in root nodules that help fix nitrogen in our often poor soils. In 2015 there was a Daviesia species on the order form for five Tree Scheme zones. Seedbank Manager Bruce Smith would like to increase their availability, but the seed of Daviesia species is not the most convenient to collect in the quantities required for the Tree Scheme. Typically the seed ripens quickly then drops, so you have to get the timing right. However, it is relatively easy to collect sufficient seed yourself to propagate a box or two of plants. Legumes will be flowering through Spring so you can admire them now and collect in November or December. Trees For Life regularly runs seed collection workshops to help you get started.
n July, Trees For Life invited members and volunteer supporters to complete a survey to learn more about what is important to you and identify ways of working with you more effectively. Thank you so much to everyone (all 1030 of you!) who took the time to respond. About 700 people posted back a paper form and another big thank you to the team of volunteers who entered the data into computers so we could analyse the results. The survey covered many different themes. A few key findings are presented below. To read a detailed report summarising the results please visit our website. • 43% of respondents (422 people) are active volunteers • The aspects of Trees For Life considered most important were helping private landholders plant trees, large scale revegetation or conservation efforts and raising awareness about the value of native flora and fauna • The reasons people support TFL are related to their: 1. Passion and concern for the environment or native fauna and flora (this was expressed in a number of different ways) 2. The need to repair the damage from previous generations and climate change 3. A personal commitment to and love of volunteering and 4. Belief in the values and practicality of TFL • The issues you would like to hear more about from TFL were: 1. Stories about native plants of SA 2. Stories about native fauna of SA 3. Special projects that receive grant funding 4. The challenges facing TFL • 79% of people strongly agree that it is very important that TFL activities are based on sound science • 86% strongly agreed that TFL is one of South Australia’s most valuable environmental organisations and 88% strongly agreed that TFL is just as relevant today as it was 30 years ago • 74% of respondents were 55 years or older.
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‘Local is best’ theory tested
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n its 34 year existence, Trees For Life has ensured its programs follow the ‘local provenance’ rule of thumb – that locally sourced seed results in restoration plantings that are best adapted to the local conditions. And while this approach has stood the test of time, Trees For Life has been aware of changing conditions throughout our 42 state seed zones and mindful that these zones are large and often comprise many different landscapes. Future and more rapid climatic changes has also led to questions about the need to expand the local provenance rule. According to the University of Adelaide’s Centre for Conservation Science and Technology director Professor Andy Lowe, ‘local is best’ seed sourcing practice misses two important points, which may seriously impact restoration outcomes, particularly resilience in the face of future environmental and climate change.
Genetic ghettos “The first potential problem is that there is a serious risk of establishing populations that will not harbour sufficient evolutionary potential for future environmental change (and risk producing ‘genetic ghettos’),” Prof Lowe said. “In addition, strict adherence to ‘local is best’ protocols may encourage the selection of poor seed sources, when genetically healthier sources further afield may produce a better restoration outcome.” The second issue is that environmental conditions that drive local adaptation can change very rapidly, and sourcing only local seed may ‘fix’ adaptations to past environments. “The environment is continually changing at different rates and scales, from daily to century level variation, but recent human forced environmental change (ie climate change, habitat fragmentation, increased salinity, irrigation, and heavy metal deposition) has dramatically impacted our native species,” he said. “In the face of a rapidly changing environment it is important to ask how ‘local environments’ are defined,
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The team of scientists, students and volunteers from the University of Adelaide’s Centre for Conservation Science and Technology planting out different provenances on the property at Point Yorke on the Yorke Peninsula. especially for long-lived species such as trees. In many regions of the world the conditions under which a 200-year-old tree established are very different to those existing today, and seeds sourced from more distant populations may harbour adaptations that more closely match the environment of the restoration site today.” To simulate the natural mixing of genes during a restoration program, the University of Adelaide has been working on restoration projects being run by Trees For Life and Greening Australia in the Yorke Peninsula and Mt Lofty Ranges.
Composite provenancing Experimental plantings at these sites focus on the restoration of native trees (mainly eucalypts) using a mixture of seed sampled at different distances from the restoration site, a practice defined as composite provenancing. “This ‘composite provenance’ is predominantly composed of locally sourced material, taken from genetically healthy stock, but also incorporates local and ecogeographically matched sources. In addition, a smaller proportion of material, depending on the natural pollen and seed dispersal dynamics of the focal species (but usually
Trees For Life Spring 2015 Number 136
somewhere between 10 and 20%), is comprised of material from much further afield,” Prof Lowe said. “While a composite provenancing approach may risk introducing some poorly adapted genes, it crucially provides an opportunity for the migration of adaptive genes and the evolution of new gene combinations through mixture of multiply sourced stocks, a key driver of evolution.” Initial results have been very promising, indicating that local provenances don’t always outperform more distance provenances. At some sites seeds sourced from warmer-drier sites have outperformed local stock. “Since we first proposed these ideas in 2008, a number of restoration organisations have changed their seed sourcing strategy and started taking into consideration genetic health issues and introducing provenances that should allow plantings to be more resilient to climate change in the future – which is a great outcome,” Prof Lowe said. “However we don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water - local provenancing is an important starting point for restoration, but provenances from further afield and those likely to be adapted to present and future climates also need to be part of the seed mixture”.
Tree Scheme
Collection Day Sunday Nov 15
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ur fantastic network of volunteers will be out in force in November to manage our 40 distribution depots across the State. Propagation materials will be handed out to volunteer growers at those depots – most taking place Sunday, November 15. If you are growing this year, please keep an eye out for more details later this month. And please say a big thank you to your depot manager when you collect your materials! The Tree Scheme team, from left, Martina Thompson, Brett Oakes, Kerry McInnes, Graham Greaves and Jennie Howe (absent Bruce Smith).
Grower Workshops
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ll growers are encouraged to attend Grower Workshops – whether this is your first or second year as a grower or you have been a regular grower over many years. Workshops are fun, practical and informative. This free, two hour session will guide you through the growing process step-by-step. We know being a grower can be an interest that is done in solitude so coming to a workshop is an opportunity to meet other likeminded people as well as to refresh your skills. Places are still available in the following workshops: • October 14 & 28 at 5.30pm • October 16, 23 & 30 at 10am • October 17, 24 &31 at 10am or 1pm Bookings are essential on (08) 8406 0500.
The Tree Scheme: in good hands
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stalwart name synonymous with the Tree Scheme is Maureen Redfern. Retiring as the Tree Scheme Manager in 2013, her 24year career grew the program from the inside out and she ran it with regimented vigor and dedication. Her knowledge of the detailed complexities of all things Tree Scheme was unsurpassed - including the meticulous task of matching landholders with growers and supplying enough growing materials across the entire state to facilitate thousands of volunteers and landholders to produce 1 million seedlings on an annual basis. Since Maureen’s departure the Tree Scheme has seen many changes including a new CEO, a new program manager, a new database that is no longer custom-built and financial challenges across the whole organisation. So naturally there have been a few loose bolts in her usually well-oiled machine! The results of last year’s growing season are a case in point. A new method of fertiliser application was introduced and it produced adverse consequences of stunted growth and poor quality seedlings and was possibly one of the lowest points in the program’s history. Our growers were discouraged, our landholders concerned and the staff team truly disheartened.
However in June this year with the appointment of new CEO (and longterm volunteer grower) Natasha Davis, a new caretaker team has been put together to manage the Tree Scheme Program. While structurally the team is fresh, their individual roots stretch long into the Tree Scheme’s history under Maureen’s reign. Acting Coordinator Jennie Howe is leading the team with the rollout of the next growing season and says, “Our members can feel reassured that we are returning to our previous proven method of fertiliser application and also conducting regular soil testing to safeguard quality.” Formerly the Volunteer Grower Coordinator, Jennie has worked closely with Maureen Redfern supporting volunteers and landholders since 2009. “Maureen ran a very tight ship and instilled extremely high standards in all of us. As a team we are very committed to continue delivering the quality results and service our members expect. This is such a unique and important program and our team is very proud to support so many members of our community to be proactive in addressing environmental issues and restoring healthy landscapes to South Australia.” The Tree Scheme team is currently busy preparing materials for distribution across the State through their dedicated volunteer network in time for growers to pick up on November 15.
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Bush For Life
Vale Peter Clark ANDREW ALLANSON
I Trees For Life CEO Natasha Davis presents Colleen Ellis with a special certificate for being the 5000th BAT attendee.
Colleen our 5000th BAT attendee
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olleen Ellis was the lucky recipient of a family pass to Adelaide Zoo recently, kindly donated by Zoos SA. The reason for this special award? Colleen was the 5000th Bush Action Team attendee! The highly successful Bush Action Team (BAT) Program has been running for around 16 years and involves groups of up to 12 volunteers spending a full day caring for our Bush For Life sites. BAT volunteers give a real boost to the site carers, as many hands make for light work. We also run two extended BATs each year, this year to the Clare Valley and Fleurieu Peninsula. Colleen has been volunteering on BATs for two years and is always an enthusiastic, committed and fun volunteer. It is fitting that she has received this award. Many thanks to Zoos SA for donating an Adelaide Zoo family pass. We are sure Colleen will enjoy her day at the zoo!
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t is with great sadness that we hear that a remarkable South Australian conservationist has passed away. Peter Clark has provided so many of us with a unique perspective on our native vegetation as well as the pressing need to manage it, so that future generations can enjoy the bush too. I first met Peter and his wife Pat, in the Trees For Life office at the old Brookway Park office, soon after beginning my work at TFL in 1992. They came in with some seed for the seedbank and asked if I’d like to go out into the field collecting seed with them (which I did soon after). Within weeks I felt that I knew Peter and Pat quite well and was hugely impressed with their seed collecting skills and the many varied locations that we went. We also soon realised that we shared a great love of Monty Python type humour. Many laughs were to be had over the years using that sense of humour.
Perils of seed collecting We collected seed mainly in the Central Hills of the Mt Lofty Ranges, but also southwards and occasionally into the mallee. Several episodes come to mind, such as Peter getting a shoelace caught on a barbed wire fence when climbing over, and yelling (calmly!) “help, help, hurry hurry” as I ran to cut the lace. His leg was at an awful angle from his hip, yet despite the pain he calmly told me to cut the shoelace thereby releasing his leg (be careful when climbing barbed wire fences!). During these seed collecting trips, I would discuss with Peter and Pat about (what was to become) the Bush For Life program. With much enthusiasm, we would discuss potential sites across the breadth of the areas that we travelled whilst seed collecting. It seemed only natural that Peter and Pat would become two of the first regional coordinators in the BFL program; in the Tea Tree Gully, as well as the Playford council areas. The whole BFL program adopted their reporting format/style. Some years after, they worked with the Threatened Plant Action Group and
Trees For Life Spring 2015 Number 136
Peter and Pat carting Gorse from a site in 1995. began bush regeneration work at the ‘Gate 38, Millbrook Woodland site’ on SA Water land. Peter’s enthusiasm and energy was always inspirational to many of us who worked with him. It was through Peter and Pat that BFL became involved with many SA Water sites and they became the BFL regional coordinators for many volunteers. What they and their volunteers achieved was and continues to be incredible, yet they have always remained humble about those achievements. Following retirement as regional coordinators, they continued to work at the Millbrook woodland on a weekly basis, along with a band of fellow bushcarers, doing great work on a valuable piece of native vegetation. After a stroke caused him to be largely wheelchair bound, Pat still took Peter along to the Millbrook site to catch up with the volunteers that worked on the site on a weekly basis. I shall always remember Peter’s sense of humour and his ability to see the possibilities for good work to be done for biodiversity. His ability to persevere provides a great example to all who met him. I am so glad that I knew him. Peter was a long time active member of the Nationally Endangered Spalding Blown Grass Recovery team, attending meetings and working to maintain Spalding Blown Grass sites. He was also involved with the recovery of threatened orchids on Yorke Peninsula, attending working bees as a member of the Threatened Plant Action Group. Peter is survived by his indomitable wife, Pat, who will continue to work for the conservation of native vegetation and species.
Bush For Life
What a difference our program makes!
Shannon Reserve
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s the Bush For Life program approaches its 21st Birthday, we would like to share some of the spectacular results that have been achieved thanks to the dedication, persistence and passion of our volunteers and regional coordinators. The best way to do this is to present some before and after photos of some of our sites. Our feature site in this edition of ReLeaf is Shannon Reserve in Coromandel Valley where 15 years of dedicated volunteering by our own Bush For Life regional coordinator Peter Watton has resulted in a dramatic transformation. What this example demonstrates are the incredible results for biodiversity that BFL volunteers achieve, and answers the question about what motivates volunteers to continue caring for their sites year after year. The photos also show the long-term commitment needed to maintain these areas. BFL is always looking for more volunteers to care for patches of bushland. There are sites all over the Adelaide Hills so if you’d like to be involved, call us! (Visit our website to see the changes made to our Barossa Reservoir and Cherry Gardens Cemetery sites.)
Photo 1: 18-6-2000
Photo 2: 21-1-2001
Photo 3: 4-4-2004
2015 Come & Trys
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hese full day activities are perfect for people who want to try bushcare for the first time. Phone (08) 8406 0500 to book. Wed Oct 7 Kangarilla Wed
Oct 14
Mt Pleasant
Fri
Oct 16
Carey Gully
Tues
Oct 20
Wistow
Thurs
Oct 22
Flagstaff H.
Sat
Oct 24
Blackwood
Wed
Oct 28
Kuitpo
Fri
Oct 30
Bridgewater
Tues
Nov 3
Hope Valley
Thurs
Nov 5
Aberfoyle Pk
Thurs
Nov 19
Flaxley
Sat
Nov 21
Highbury
Wed
Nov 25
Fairview Pk
Fri
Nov 27
Belair
Sat
Dec 5
OneTreeHill
Photo 4: 20-2-2007
Photo 5: 25-6-2015
n 2000, Shannon Reserve in Coromandel Valley came into the Bush For Life Program under volunteer Peter Watton’s guidance (see Photo 1). The site was previously being mown with a tractor, resulting in weed grasses being spread across the reserve. Mowing meant that native seedlings were unable to grow and thrive and the fragile sandy soil was being damaged. The trees in this photograph are Eucalyptus leucoxylon (SA Blue Gum), with a large weed Pinus radiata (Radiata Pine) in the centre. Photo 2: Without mowing, the perennial weed grasses Ehrharta calycina (Perennial Veldt Grass) and Pentameris pallida (Pentaschistis/Pussy Tail) dominate, but there are also a few native Austrostipa sp. (Spear-grass) seed heads showing. TFL authorised Peter to brushcut the weed grasses, a prelude to Brushcutter Training for BFL volunteers. Photo 3: Perennial weed grasses have been removed in the foreground and there are more Spear-grass present, but annual grasses also increased. The small trees in the foreground are Acacia pycnantha (Golden Wattle), which are thriving now that they are not being slashed by the mowing. Difficult to see, but the Radiata Pine in the centre has been ring-barked. Also note the second Radiata Pine on the hill to the left. Photo 4: Front left is Olearia ramulosa (Twiggy Daisy-bush) being held out of the way of the photo, the Golden Wattle have grown and much of their leaves are above head height. The area cleared of perennial weed grasses has expanded and the annual weed grasses have also been removed. Spear-grasses have continued to spread and the ring-barked Radiata Pine has fallen over; the second Radiata Pine on the left has defoliated after being drilled and filled. Photo 5: After 15 years as a BFL site, the Golden Wattle have continued to grow taller with some dying. More native understorey plants have established in addition to the grasses, the ring-barked Radiata Pine is now flat on the ground and well-rotted, as is the drilled and filled one on the left (no longer visible). Council has engaged contractors to remove several other large Radiata Pine.
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TFL Works
TFL Works gives native orchids a helping hand
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he Trees For Life Works team is helping community group Vale Park Our Patch with a native revegetation and environmental education project along the banks of the River Torrens. One of the project’s main successes has been to re-establish more than 20 species of native orchids that once existed on the Adelaide Plains. In the past year the team has worked on sites at Vale Park and Gilberton brushcutting, weeding, pruning, eradicating invasive species making sure they are cleared to give native species the best chance of survival.
Strong partnerships Working with groups such as TFL Works, Vale Park Our Patch (VPOP) volunteers have spent the past 15 years working to preserve, enhance, record and promote its ‘nearby nature’ according to spokesperson Heather Whiting (who is also a Life Member of Trees For Life). As well as preserving indigenous species, the group and its partners have planted more than 30,000 native plants representing 200 local species. Around 60 of these species, many of which are now self-propagating, have
conservation ratings. The group’s success with reintroducing native orchid species on its sites however, is obviously a highlight. Until recently the Adelaide Plains had lost all but one of its 100 or so native ground orchids. The Vale Park and Gilberton sites now feature more than 20 orchid species such as Greenhoods, Pink Fairies, Donkey and Mosquito, King Spider and Helmet orchids to name a few. To include the wider community in the project, the VPOP group has also developed a Wildflower Walk, designed and installed photographic plant labels on site and works closely with schools such as the Vale Park Primary School on biodiversity education. TFL Works is proud to be associated with such a passionate outcomefocused group which is clearly making a difference to the natural landscape and within the local community. To find out more about the VPOP group visit www.valeparkourpatch.com TFL Works’ support is made available through funding from Natural Resources, Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges.
TFL Works field officer Andrew Goodwin helps VPOP spokesperson Heather Whiting plant some orchids.
A beautiful patch of Blunt Greenhood (Pterostylis curta) orchids at Vale Park.
Can’t find the species you’re looking for? Our Trees For Life nursery grows to order over 75 different indigenous plants, including uncommon species. We supply revegetation projects across South Australia with professionally grown tubestock at a competitive rate. Choose from our species list, or send us your own requirements for a quote. (08) 8406 0500 info@treesforlife.org.au 9
Trees For Life Spring 2015 Number 136
Direct Seeding
Habitat program helps endangered Malleefowl
T
rees For Life is teaming up with local landholders in the Monarto South area with habitat creation projects to assist the local population of Malleefowl. These iconic Australian birds are in real trouble, their range at Monarto South being fragmented and isolated. The result of extensive land clearance, with climate change, predation by exotic animals and other human impacts has left this population - the only one west of the river in the lower Murray Darling Basin - in perilous balance. Through our Trees For Habitat Program, which is aimed at recreating a biodiverse habitat for native wildlife, 4ha of private land was recently direct seeded in the Monarto South area. The region is seen as a conservation hotspot, noted as being “of high environmental significance” in Adelaide’s ‘30 Year Plan’, together with the eastern foothills of the Mt Lofty Ranges. It is home to the Ferries McDonald Conservation Park; the second Park declared in South Australia after Belair, in the 1940s. The Monarto Conservation Park was declared in the 1980s. (Additional parks have recently been established). Over the years the region has been the focus of many environmental initiatives by organisations such as the Field Naturalists Society, which in their day advocated for retention of habitat for international migratory birds species who roost seasonally in the area. Soil conservation boards also sought to protect bushland on sand dunes as a soil stabilisation measure. Trees For Life’s new Trees For Habitat site is on property owned by environmental architect Emilis Prelgauskas. Emilis bought his property – “degraded farmland” – more than 30 years ago. Since then he has built his own environmentallyfriendly and self-sustaining house and created bushland around the property. “This includes years of weed control, bushfire detritus control, and new plant seeding. These in later years then themselves re-seed, creating diverse plant associations suited to today’s circumstance of
Landholder Emilis Prelgauskas inspecting some direct seeding on his property and inset, emerging seedlings from seeding recently undertaken in Monarto South. wildlife and human occupation,” Emilis said. Working closely with him is Emilis’s partner, local veterinarian Rachel Westcott. Rachel has been the instigator of Malleefowl Monarto’s field work over the years to track Malleefowl in both public and private lands in the area. This work links to the National Malleefowl Recovery Program database which government and private consultants draw on. Together with other landholders, government and environmental organisations, wildlife corridor linkages are being established across public and private land with new revegetation and stock exclusion fencing.
Feral free sanctuary Another landholder, Robert Thiele, is keen to see his bushland section devoted to wildlife support in the form of a feral free sanctuary, primarily to protect the endangered Malleefowl. According to Emilis, the Monarto South area has become isolated from other Malleefowl habitat areas further to the east. “The local megapode population is seen to be at threat of decline by limited biodiversity and predation from feral cats and foxes,” he said. “Malleefowl population health is seen as an indicator for environmental health more broadly for the land, the vegetation, wildlife, and people.”
Trees For Life will work closely with landholders, government agencies and environmental organisations to ensure our Trees For Habitat program links in with all outcomes sought for the region and its wildlife. Some of these include the Rural City of Murray Bridge, Monarto Zoo, Eastern Hills & Murray Plains Catchment Group and the Malleefowl Monarto group.
S
ponsorship of the Trees For Habitat Program is available for businesses which, after an initial start-up fee of $500, can then contribute a percentage of sales to Trees For Life or offer to have ‘a tree planted for every product sold’. This option is great for new businesses as contributions can grow with the business. It also makes a direct link between business activity and contributing toward biodiverse habitat. Businesses participating in our Trees For Habitat Program will receive regular site reports complete with before and after photos, species lists and site observations - all of which can be shared with customers via website or social media. For more information phone Trees For Life on (08) 8406 0500. To find out more about the Malleefowl, visit www.malleefowlmonarto.org or www.malleefowl.net.au/monarto See our Kids Branch page for more on the endangered Malleefowl.
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For Members
It’s easy being green this Christmas
TFL Men’s and Women’s short sleeve t-shirts - $22
TFL aluminium drink bottle $18
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TFL calico bag - $10
TFL wide brimmed hat $20; Fleece vest - $40
TFL 2016 ‘Fruit, nuts and seed’ Calendar - $14
Earth Greetings Xmas Cards - $14
Trees For Life Spring 2015 Number 136
Stop Bushland Weeds - $32.50
TFL mug - $15 Start with the Leaves $34.95
Grass ID Manual - $30
It’s Blue With Five Petals $49.95
For Members
Join us for Christmas drinks and thanks
W
e would love you to join us for Trees For Life’s annual volunteer recognition evening and Christmas drinks on Wednesday, December 2. This year’s event will again be held at the Thebarton Community Centre between 5.30-7.30pm. The centre is located on the corner of South Road and Ashwin Parade, with entry to the carpark from South Road. Our annual event gives the Board and staff at TFL the opportunity to thank you all for your valuable contribution to the organisation over the past 12 months. Award presentations will also be made on the night. For more information or to RSVP please email info@treesforlife.org.au or phone (08) 8406 0500. Please also advise us of any special dietary requirements. Look forward to seeing you all there!
Adelaide People’s Climate Rally
A
delaide will join the worldwide ‘People’s Climate March 2015’ in late November. Rallies around the globe will be held on November 28-29, creating the largest mobilisation ever seen just before world leaders gather at the UN climate talks in Paris in December. Australian events will aim to: • Send a strong message calling on our political leaders to protect the Australian people by fairly transitioning away from dirty polluting fossil fuels to renewable energy. • Demand all governments lead the way in building a sustainable, fair society and a clean economy with the needs of people at its centre. The Adelaide march will be held at midday on Sunday, November 29. Further details will appear on the website peoplesclimate.org.au For more information email maddie.sarre@aycc.org.au
Intro bush regen workshops (B1)
I
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. Saturday
October 10
Burnside
Thursday
October 29
Central Onkaparinga
Advanced workshops Grass ID & Management (with native grass expert Ann Prescott) Thursday
October 22
Brooklyn Park
Saturday
October 24
Brooklyn Park
Seed collection workshop (SC1) Thursday
October 29
Belair NP
Workshop runs from 9am until 3.30pm. For more information phone Seedbank Manager Bruce Smith on (08) 8406 0500.
Group seed collection day (SD1) Thursday
November 5
Monarto South
Meet at 9am at Monarto South (where the road to Monarto Zoo crosses the railway. Car pooling will be arranged for group seed collection days. (Seed collection permits for Trees For Life members are renewed around the end of September each year. If you have been a regular seed collector you should have received a renewed permit recently. For more information phone Seedbank Manager Bruce Smith on (08) 8406 0500.)
Win a luxury week away in Paris!
T
ickets are now available in Trees For Life’s annual lottery, with 20 prizes totalling more than $19,500 – including first prize of a week in a luxury Paris apartment and $7500 travel voucher! The lottery is our main fundraiser and all proceeds support TFL’s ongoing environmental programs. We are hopeful this year’s lottery will be as successful as previous years, and thank all businesses and individuals involved in donating prizes. Second prize in the lottery is a framed nature photograph from Darren Longbottom valued at $1250, with third prize a superb Flinders Ranges experience. Other prizes include a ‘Barossa Beauty’ pack containing a selection of Barossa wines, Maggie Beer Cookbook
and products, Fleurieu Fun package which includes wine and two nights’ accommodation at Port Willunga, Gardening Guru pack, Yorke Peninsula getaway, two nights accommodation at Kangaroo Island Allure Beach Retreat, books, family passes, four rounds of golf at Blackwood Golf Club and more. Prize winners 1-10 will also receive a one-year digital subscription to New Internationalist. The lottery tickets are just $2 and can be bought from TFL members or the TFL office. If you would like to sell some tickets, or want to purchase tickets, phone us on (08) 8406 0500. The lottery will be drawn on February 17, 2016.
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FOR SALE 8 Individual shares @ $75,000 each 130 ACRES 41 BILLY GOAT HILL ROAD LOBETHAL – WOODSIDE Help preserve this valuable remnant of intact woodland. Invest in ensuring the future of biodiversity in the Adelaide Hills. Consisting of 100 acres of open intact Stringybark forest, magnificent stands of Candlebark Gum in creeks with an understorey consisting mostly of native grasses, orchids and home to an abundance of wildlife and birds. The conservation value of this property is rated the highest biodiversity site in the Mount Lofty Ranges and includes over 140 endemic plant species, 6 threatened species including Australian Caraway thought to be extinct in SA. Heritage agreement currently underway on the bushland. Ongoing funding from NRM Board. 30 acres cleared with dam and large shed. Being offered for sale as 8 individual shares @ $75,000 per share as part of a consortium. 2 shares sold, 6 remaining. Taking expressions of interest now.
Contact Suzy on 8339 8179 or Lyn on 8536 6302.
A Start From Seed Kit is a complete set of materials to grow 50 native seedlings from seed.
Start From Seed Kits Have you missed out on placing a Tree Scheme order? By purchasing a Start From Seed Kit, you still have an opportunity to grow your own seedlings that will be ready for planting next winter. Kits are priced from $25 and are available throughout the year. To purchase Start From Seed Kits, call or email our office on (08) 8406 0500 or info@treesforlife.org.au
Perpetual Sponsor
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Trees For Life Spring 2015 Number 136
Service Directory
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
Trees For Life Board President: David Mitchell Treasurer: Hanne Damgaard Secretary: Nathan Daniell Board Members: David Grybowski, Meera Verma, Sarah Van Maarseveen, Jim Humphrys, Jess Hardy and Andy Lowe
Trees For Life Contacts Chief Executive Officer: Natasha Davis Bush For Life Manager: Amelia Hurren Direct Seeding Manager: David Hein TFL Works Manager: Matthew Endacott Office Manager: Lisa Adams TFL Carbon Manager: Dennis Hayles Seedbank Manager: Bruce Smith Marketing-Fundraising Manager: Carlene Calvert TFL Nursery: Graham Greaves, Brett Oakes
Trees For Life Rural Gawler: Sylvia Nieuwenhuizen 8406 8419 Noarlunga: Graham Greaves 8386 1018 Willunga: Julie Turner 8556 2401; 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 8536 8053
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
Become part of Visionary today from only $10 a month Trees For Life and our volunteers are totally focused on undoing the damage and protecting our natural environment. There is an urgent need for all of us as Australians to act now or be faced with leaving our next generation only photos of our rich diverse range of flora and wildlife. As a not-for-profit organisation, Trees For Life is dependent on both time and financial support of the community to continue our work. Visionary is Trees For Life’s regular giving program for members who contribute a tax deductible donation of at least $120 a year. To become a Visionary you can set up periodic payments using internet banking or we can direct debit from your credit card. my details name ................................................................................................................. address .............................................................................................................. postcode ............. email ................................................................... phone ................................. member no. ......................................................
credit card please debit $.............. from my every
Mastercard Visa
month 3 months 6 months year
card number __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ / __ __ __ __ exp date __ __ / __ __ name on card ...................................................................... signature ...............................................................................
direct credit
please send me Trees For Life’s bank account details so I can set up periodic payments via internet banking
one-off donation
I am unable to join Visionary but I want to make a one-off donation of $...............
Thank you for affirming your concern for our environment! As a Visionary we will send you an annual receipt for tax purposes and a summary of the program’s achievements. Please fill in your personal and payment details and send back to us at: Trees For Life Reply Paid 61156 Brooklyn Park SA 5032
VR1506
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Clever little artists
We’re helping the Malleefowl survive!
H
ave you heard of a bird that is the size of a chicken, has large feet and builds a big sand and leaf mound for its nest? It sounds funny, but this bird actually exists. It’s the Malleefowl. You may not have heard much about it because this bird is under threat of becoming extinct. In most states it’s either vulnerable or endangered. Here in South Australia, like some other states, groups of people are trying to make sure this special bird survives. Locally, much of the Malleefowl’s habitat is found in the mallee and near Monarto. But over the years their numbers have been declining because of lack of habitat (not having enough food or shelter), bushfires and being preyed upon by animals such as foxes.
So just what are Malleefowl? They belong to the family known as ‘megapodes’. The name megapod refers to the exceptionally large feet. With these feet they establish mounds in which they nest. The mounds are made up of sand and leaf litter and are usually 3-5 metres in diameter and up to one metre high. Malleefowl spend most of their day on the ground but roost in trees at night. They pair for life and breed annually except in drought years. They lay eggs from September and an egg is laid every 5-7 days until mid to late summer (usually about 15-25 eggs overall). Chicks start emerging from mounds in November, buried with up to a metre of sand above them. Their unaided struggle to the surface may take up to 15 hours. The chicks receive no parental care after hatching, but like other megapodes can run and feed themselves almost immediately and fly within 24 hours.
By Florence, aged 6
By Clara, aged 6
Their diet consists of seeds, flowers and fruits of shrubs (especially legumes), herbs, invertebrates, tubers and fungi. So next time you go for a visit up to Monarto you might see signs for Malleefowl habitat – and now you’ll know a bit more about them! Trees For Life is joining the fight to help establish and conserve Malleefowl habitat – you can read all about it on Page 10. For more information visit these websites: www.malleefowl.net.au and www.nationalmalleefowl.com.au (Information courtesy of The National Malleefowl Recovery Team).
By Rohan, aged 7: ‘Middleton marine life’
By Rohan, aged 7: ‘Quirky plant people’
Trees For Life. 5 May Tce, Brooklyn Park, SA, 5032. (08) 8406 0500 www.treesforlife.org.au