Community Group Doubles Conservation Area | Spanish Heath Now in Bloom | Reveg Training from your Lounge | Upcoming Field Days | + more  

"We come from a rag-tag bunch" - Big win for Seymour Community Action Group Inc.

The efforts of Seymour Community Action Group Inc. have led to a doubling of the Seymour Conservation Area 

On June 29 it was announced that an extra 54 hectares of land was incorporated into the Seymour Conservation Area after decades of rehabilitation by the local community.

After years of dedication to the restoration of Seymour Swamp, the Seymour Community Action Group Inc. (lovingly known as SCAGI) have succeeded in their goal of reclassifying their project zone to the Seymour Conservation Area.

This reclassification means that the Seymour Conservation Area is now nearly double in size.

This group have done an incredible job supporting the environmental values for this important landscape - home to significant flora, fauna and a high conservation value waterbody.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to SCAGI and all those who have helped a long the way, all helping to stoke the flame for community grassroots Landcare across Tasmania.

Read more for SCAGIs full press release and ways to get involved with their future projects.

Unfriendly Flowers: Spanish Heath Now in Bloom 

As Winter is in full swing, Spanish Heath is flowering. Now is a good time to be mindful of the weed and learn about how we can help stop it from spreading further.

Spanish Heath may look pretty, but it is a highly invasive weed which outcompetes pasture and native plants, reduces food sources and habitat for native wildlife, and is highly combustible- posing a significant fire hazard. Each plant can produce millions of seeds, which are transported by water and wind, meaning it is incredibly easily spread.

The weed is very common along roadsides, and from there it is able to infiltrate native vegetation.

Read more to find out tips for identifying and tackling Spanish Heath, including an instructional video by Devonport Council's Phil Hrstich on effective herbicide control methods. 

Learn How to Plant from your Living Room

Resources Live  - Revegetation Techniques 

NOW LIVE. Have you always wanted to come to a Landcare Tasmania Revegetation Training but haven't been able to make it?

Now you can learn revegetation techniques from your living room.  Just uploaded are a series of nine 10-minute videos taking you through the basics of successful revegetation planting. From ground prep, to weed control, to seasonal plantings and planting demos, this Reveg Techniques series will set you up to plan a successful planting project. 

These workshops are delivered by expert and legend Herbert Staubmann who has been growing native plants for 35 years. He has extensive experience in working with farmers and other landowners, designing plantings for biodiversity, production, and other landscape benefits.

A big thankyou to volunteer Robert Alcock of Silver Creek Art House for putting these videos together. 

This workshop is part of our South East Landscape Project, which is funded by the State Government's Landcare Action Grants.

Significant harm - complicated solutions - what can the community do about feral cats? 

Feral cats cause some of the most significant harm to our natural and agricultural landscapes, but feral cat control is a complicated issue.  Are you witnessing the impacts of feral cats but aren't sure what you can do, or what is currently being done?

We held a Feral Cat info session this month which brought together NRE's ex Senior Vet Officer Bruce Jackson, experienced cat trapper John Bowden, and Gill Basnett from the Invasive Species Council to answer some of the communities' questions about the impact of feral cats, and what can be done practically and legally to curb the damage. 

This workshop is part of our Outreach Program and Landscape Restoration which aims to increase capacity for Landcarers so that all our land and coasts can be cared for by the community. Funded by: The State Government's Landcare Action Grants

"An antidote to despair" - Community Landcare offers hope amongst a 'sobering' State of the Environment report 

Amid the sobering findings detailed in the Australia State of the Environment 2021 Report, the positive impact of community Landcare movement offers hope.

The report reflects what our members are seeing on the ground – that the Australian environment is in a ‘poor and deteriorating state.’

Changing environmental conditions mean that many species and ecosystems are increasingly threatened.

However, amid a bleak landscape, the Landcare story offers some hope. The Report highlighted that community action is important to mitigate further deterioration and is essential to building resilience.

The report made mention of the landscape-scale improvements of integrated land management projects and the restoration initiatives of locally based Landcare groups.

An Ode to Trees

Celebrating our ten favourite things about trees this National Tree Day

Image: Embroidery by The Textile Artist, Cindy Watkins

"Trees are sanctuaries. Whoever knows how to speak to them, whoever knows
how to listen to them, can learn the truth. They do not preach learning and
precepts, they preach, undeterred by particulars, the ancient law of life."

-Hermann Hesse 1946

At Landcare we celebrate and promote community Landcare year-round, but we find that National Tree Day is a wonderful annual culmination of community environmental action.  The day draws in people from many walks of life to come together and celebrate trees and caring for nature generally.  

We would like to use National Tree Day as an excuse to profess our love for trees.  Read more for our top ten reasons for our love affair with trees.  Scroll to the bottom to find out about how you can get involved and National Tree Day events happening near you. 

Members Focus: Upcoming Events 

Biodiversity Field Day at The Old Woodstock Farm 

Want to learn more about the benefits of promoting biodiversity on farm? Come along to the picturesque Old Woodstock Farm for a biodiversity field day.  You'll come away from this workshop able to create your own biodiversity action plan!

Freshwater in the Huon - What's the sitch? 

Come and hear from Chris, John, and Simon who have each worked extensively in freshwater ecology over the last 30 years,  They have experience in ecological sampling, assessments, flow regulation and legislative requirements.  

Biosecurity announcement: Foot and Mouth Disease

IMAS Marine Atlas Info Session (North)

Image: IMAS

Do you care about Tasmania's marine environment?

If so, join IMAS Marine Spatial Analyst Dr Myriam Lacharité at a series of community workshops this month where she’ll explain the development of Tasmania’s Marine Atlas. 

The Atlas is an online mapping platform that will make data on Tasmania’s coastal waters and various marine activities available to stakeholders and all Tasmanians.

This information could be used in many ways – which is researchers want to know what you think should be included in the Atlas and how you might use the platform.

To learn about the Atlas and have your say, attend the upcoming workshop on the 1st August (North) or join via Zoom.

Numbers are limited so please register to interest to participate as soon as possible.

Welcome to our New Member Groups!

New member groups are a great demonstration of the generosity of the Tasmanian community to get involved in caring for our bush, land, coasts, rivers, and wildlife. They're contributing to our vision for all the land and coasts of Tassie to be cared for by the community. Join them if you're in their area!

Warrane Community Garden - Community Group 

Friends of Old Beach Foreshore - Community Group 

Silver Hill Road Group - Property Based Group 

Donate

With a growing membership - and growing environmental challenges - our services need to grow too.  If you are able to donate, now is the time!

The number of Landcare Groups and Individual Members has nearly DOUBLED since 2016 to over 100 Individual members and over 300 Landcare groups representing over 6,000 volunteers. We are delighted!

But we need help to support this growth. 

Will you donate to the Tasmanian Landcare Fund?

Thanks for reading

The Landcare Tasmania Team

Peter Stronach - CEO
Priscilla Richards - Landcare Services Manager
Rachel Larner - Finance and Administration Manager
Kat Traill - Events Manager 
Jenn Gason – Communications Manager
Evie Drinnan - Executive Assistant
Joy Pfleger – Project Officer