A day for Huon Valley groups to network and celebrate

20 June 2024 |

It was a lively day of collaboration and shared learning as members representing the 38 Landcare groups active in the Huon Valley came together for a network gathering in Huonville.

A highlight of the day was touring the Huon Valley Volunteer Landcare Nursery. Photo credit: Luke Cooper

Attendees heard from Landcare Tasmania’s project team Anna Minchin and Luke Cooper, chief executive officer Peter Stronach, Michelle Joy from Huon Valley Council, and Barbara Marshall from the Kingborough Landcare Network. The presenters talked about the pros and cons of forming an official Landcare Network for the Huon region. Discussions were focused on how to formalise inter-group communication and ways to collectively advocate for the amazing work undertaken by the Huon Landcare groups. 

The groups are to be congratulated on the work they do to protect and restore biodiversity, waterways, and habitat. 

“The Huon region's Landcare groups serve as an inspiring model for regional, community-driven land management actions across Tasmania," said Landcare Tasmania's CEO Peter Stronach.

Celebrating Landcare Tasmania’s 30th birthday with a green cake! Photo credit: Luke Cooper.

Presentations from Landcare Tasmania’s project team covered the many resources on the Landcare Tasmania website, and useful tools for planning on-ground Landcare projects. Landcare Tasmania supports groups through grants, insurance, advice, training, and help with group administration.

PhD student Beatrice Harrison Day, who is studying water transport in plants, presented on a hugely relevant topic - recent large-scale forest dieback occurring in Southern Tasmania. This has been particularly extreme in the Huon Valley, with huge swathes of hillside forest visibly dying. She spoke about the physiological reasons trees die in drought conditions, and why some species fare better than others. This sparked an interesting conversation about the increased bushfire risk following dieback events and how to failsafe future plantings and management of our bushland areas.

PhD student Beatrice Harrison Day. Photo credit: Pete Huon.

To top off the networking day, participants were treated to a tour of the Huon Valley Volunteer Landcare Nursery. This recently established volunteer-run nursery is supported by Huon Valley Council and Landcare Tasmania. Volunteers from around the Huon Valley meet once a week to manage the nursery, forming connections and developing new skills in seed sourcing, collecting, and propagation. In the last year, they have grown more than 3,000 plants to give away to Landcare groups for plantings.

Everyone loved the opportunity to look around the Huon Valley Volunteer Landcare Nursery. Photo credit: Luke Cooper.

 


 

This workshop is part of Landcare Tasmania's Landscape Restoration and Community Outreach programs and is funded by the Tasmanian State Government.