What is a remnant bush? It’s  a patch of native forest, shrubland or grassland that retains much of its original structure and types of plants. Unrestricted stock access can impact on these patches and fencing may be necessary, so here are a couple of quick tips to think about:

• Planning is important – use a map of the property (even print one from google earth or thelist) to plan and mark out where the fence should go. But check it in the field so ground to find those hidden gullies that don’t quite show up on a map.

• Take some time comparing different fence types. Your chosen fence type will be influenced by factors like: stock type, are they cows or sheep, chance of flooding, bush type and possible needs for access such as crash grazing, or ongoing weed management.

• Straight fence lines are easier and less expensive to erect because they require less strainers. See the diagram below for an illustration of fencing around a river. Keep it simple and make sure it’s not just on top of the bank, give the river some width. 

• Leave space between the natural bush and your working land. This provides a natural regeneration buffer and minimises any branch fall. A slasher width is good for fence maintenance.
   

• Monitor for change. Don’t just fence it and leave it. Weeds may have been suppressed by stock and could now potentially thrive. Get them before they take over. When you see different coloured flowers this can be a good indication of suppressed species popping up.

• Fencing out browsers like wallabies and kangaroos can cause other complications ie. animals forced to graze on bush, become trapped without enough food and starve or break through fences. You can get a management plan created for your area by contacting the Wildlife Department