The Scoop
Shorebird Feature: Winter Shorebird Count
Mid-May to mid-August is the Australian Winter Shorebird Count, with optimal sightings predicted for July 1st. Shorebird Guardians, twitchers and interested citizen scientists are encouraged to submit their surveys any time within that period, via the Birdata app or... read more
Woodland Bird Feature: Regent Honeyeaters Update
With the final Regent Honeyeaters that were being monitored as part of the 2022 captive release seemingly leaving the vicinity of the Tomalpin Woodlands, the hunt is now on to find where they have gone – and – where other Regent Honeyeaters are! Right now, as you’re... read more
Box Gum Grassy Woodlands Tour
Take a tour of the Box Gum Grassy Woodlands along the new Merriwa Pathway. A new pathway with a mural and interpretive signs along the 4km pathway has been completed. It is providing visitors to the area with fascinating information about the Box Gum Grassy Woodlands... read more
Landcare NSW Gathering
Committee Members of the Hunter Region Landcare Network (HRLN) and Coordinator staff attended the Landcare State Gathering in Coffs Harbour last week. The gathering enabled Landcare Committee Members and staff from each of the 11 regions in NSW to come together and... read more
Join the Hunter Region Landcare Network
Being a Committee Member with the Hunter Region Landcare Network not only provides the opportunity to add value and skills to the planning and delivery of local and regional landcare projects, you also get to see landcare projects in action on the 3rd Monday of each... read more
Post-Fire project Across Three Landcare Groups Wrap Up
Loading... Taking too long? Reload document | Open in new tab View, Print and Download [383.17 KB] Revegetation across three Landcare Groups Improve Biodiversity and Resilience Hunter Region Landcare Network The issue Following the devastating fires in 2019/20, HRLN... read more
First Nations Feature: NAIDOC Week 2023
“We’re proud to announce that the 2023 National NAIDOC Week theme is For Our Elders. Across every generation, our Elders have played, and continue to play, an important role and hold a prominent place in our communities and families. They are cultural... read more
Understanding Your Property By the Property Detective Part 11
Your Vegetation – Trees near Me The Tocal Field Days were filled with visitors asking questions about the type of vegetation that was found in the locality of their farm or bush block. This prompted reflection on accessing the type of vegetation encountered on... read more
Hunter Region Landcare Network Membership from 1st July 2023
Hunter Region Landcare Network Incorporated Membership Structure Hunter Region Landcare Network (HRLN) Incorporated has updated its constitution with changes to membership structure and membership fees. Membership of HRLN is open to all individuals and Landcare or... read more
Reminder to be aware of the risks at your Landcare site
Reminder to be aware of the risks at your Landcare site. And carry a snake bandage as part of your first aid kit. This image is courtesy of the Vacy group. An Eastern brown snake’s (Pseudonaja textilis) habitat was disturbed while carrying out revegetation at the... read more
Community Environment Grants
Round One 2023-24 applications open 14 August 2023 – 24 September 2023 The Lake Mac Community Environment Grants Program, formerly known as Environmental Sustainability Grants Program, is designed to support community-initiated projects that improve our local... read more
Hunter LLS Community Small Grants and Education Scholarships
Applications submitted any time, start building your application for next financial year. Hunter Local Land Services will be delivering a program for community groups, networks or associations and individuals in building knowledge, skills and participation in land... read more
2023 National Custodians of Country Gathering
On behalf of Firesticks Alliance, Landcare Australia invites Expression of Interest to present at the National Custodians of Country Gathering (the Gathering) hosted in Cairns from August 21-25, 2023. Guidelines for the Call for Expressions of Interest The 2023... read more
Nature Conservation Council Bushfire Conference 2023
May 24 -26 Surry Hills, Sydney The Nature Conservation Council of NSW (NCC) is proud to present their 13th Biennial Bushfire Conference – Managing Bushfire Together: applying science, skills and stories. The conference will take place on Wednesday 24th and... read more
2023 Landcare Muster – a joyous celebration for Landcare!
With 80 Landcarers from across the Hunter region, we had a wonderful time learning, networking, and exploring a range of topics with Peter Dixon of AABR, including landcare and bush regeneration methodologies, planning for the future, managing our patches for climate... read more
Notice of a Special General Meeting
The Hunter Region Landcare Network is calling a Special General Meeting for the presentation and adaptation of a new Constitution on Monday 22nd May 2023 at 10am at Merriwa Council Offices (34-40 Vennacher St). The Constitution is a guide to our principles and... read more
20 Year Celebration of Shorebird Habitat Restoration in the Hunter Estuary
On Saturday, April 22nd, Hunter Region Landcare hosted a celebratory lunch for the Hunter Bird Observers Club (HBOC) on behalf of National Parks & Wildlife Services (NPWS) at the Stockton Sandspit. This event marked the 20 Year Anniversary of on-going restoration... read more
Nocturnal Spotlighting at Hunter River Reserve, Greta
Last Friday evening, Landcare volunteers were taken on a guided spotlighting session – to try and spot nocturnal critters who utilise the site after-dark. Starting in the Woodland, the group of a dozen kept quiet while we very carefully walked down the staircase... read more
Nesca Park Landcare, Cooks Hill – transformation of an urban weedy gully to a restored Littoral Rainforest.
Next time you’re in Newcastle, take the time to walk through Nesca Park, from Darby Street to the Anzac Walk. Landcare volunteers have been working over many years with the support of Newcastle Council, to restore the gully from remnant Littoral Rainforest... read more
First Nations Feature: The Difference between an Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country?
At our recent Bush Tucker Workshop in Blandford in the Upper Hunter, Uncle Warren Welcomed us to Country with a smoking ceremony. He described it as a way to cleanse all the bad spirits out of you, and mother earth welcoming us to this country. A Welcome to Country is... read more
World Migratory Bird Day
Saturday, May 13 is the first of two World Migratory Bird Days in 2023. These annual celebrations fall on the 2nd Saturday of May and October to mark the departure and return of migratory bird species, as they journey to their breeding grounds and back. World... read more
Understanding Your Property By the Property Detective Part 10
Investigating Revegetation What was there before? The Hunter Region Landcare Muster held on the First April 2023 gave Landcarers an opportunity to listen to Peter Dixon on the approaches taken to address Revegetation and what this could involve. Today I want to look... read more
Plant of the Month: “You can eat it, but it tastes like…”
Following on from our recent Bush Foods day at Blandford I’m taking a break from trying to identify Eucalypts and looking at some of our local bushfoods. Within the Hunter there would be well over 200* species of native plant which are or have been recorded as edible,... read more
Community Environment Grants
The Lake Mac Community Environment Grants Program, formerly known as Environmental Sustainability Grants Program, is designed to support community-initiated projects that improve our local environment and/or inspire environmentally sustainable behaviour in Lake... read more
Muswellbrook Show
We had a great couple of days at the recent Muswellbrook Show, talking to locals and visitors about their properties, with a plant stall of species propagated at our nearby Landcare nursery, and video’s featuring our Upper Hunter Landcare projects. Muswellbrook Show... read more
Landcare in the Vacy Area
Landcare members in the Vacy area have begun work rehabilitating the Council reserve on the Paterson River where the Allyn and Paterson meet. This Council reserve was used as a stock crossing and a holding area in days past. The site was originally adopted by... read more
First Nations Feature: The difference between an ecological burn and a cultural burn
Do you know what the difference is between the terms cultural burn (Aboriginal Land Management) and ecological burn? In this very informative piece by our Fire Ecology Education Officer Oilivia, the vital difference is... read more
Woodland Bird Feature: Honeyeater Migration
Australia has the most complex array of bird movement and dispersal in the world. It is still poorly understood. Whilst other terrestrial continents have very clearly defined seasons with large-scale migrations of birds to go with those extremes of winter and summer,... read more
Understanding Your Property By the Property Detective Part 9
Rainfall Expectations and Flood Risk The experience of Lismore over the past year has heightened the community awareness of excessive rainfall and its resultant flooding in various catchments and along river systems. For the Land carer and property owner, it is useful... read more
Shorebird Feature: Shorebird Disturbance Monitoring
Listen to Ms. Mattea Taylor, PhD Candidate in Environmental Science, interviewed on ABC Radio National by Robyn Williams. She overviews her PhD Research in Shorebird Disturbance Monitoring, declining numbers globally and investigating the impact of local industrial... read more
Good News For Our Waterways!!
Four Hunter groups- Wollombi Landcare, Sustaining the Williams Valley, Luskintyre Landcare and Lambs Valley Landcare have received small grants through the Landcare riparian grants program to improve the vegetation condition along each of their riparian zones through... read more
AAEE Conference – Wollongong Sept 2023
The Australian Association of Environmental Education Conference theme is ‘Listening to Country, Learning Together and Transforming the Future’, fostering innovation, collaboration, resilience and genuinely effective action for a sustainable future. Featuring... read more
Wollombi Aboriginal Cultural Experiences – Sunset Tours
Wollombi Aboriginal Cultural Experiences – Sunset Tour, 18th August, 4 – 8pm. Wollombi has been, for millennia, an important meeting place, to which Aboriginal people would travel great distances for trade, social intercourse, and ceremony. The focus of... read more
Lake Macquarie Landcare Nursery Volunteer Opportunities
Are you a green-thumb with a passion for growing plants? Do you want to learn more about native plant propagation? The Lake Macquarie Landcare nursery, part of the Landcare and Sustainable Living Centre, umali barai-ku, at Booragul is looking for more volunteers to... read more
Do you have some Young Environmental Champions?
Action for Agriculture is supporting young people to become agents of change through their Young Environmental Champions program. The 10 week program focuses on networking, mentoring and empowering students to engage in their community. Available for Stage 3-5... read more
Understanding Your Property By the Property Detective Part 8
Rainfall and Topography Our last article looked at the rainfall for the location where our farming or Landcare activity takes place. This time we take a closer look at topography to gain an appreciation of the impact of water on the surface of our locality. To gain a... read more
Plant of the Month: Lomandra longifolia
Member of Wollombi Landcare, Andrea Lang has written a short and entertaining article about how to gather and grow this creek-side helper, so please enjoy the article and get your Lomandra on! Lomandra is the backbone of many a revegetation project because of its... read more
Plant of the Month: Ironbarks
It was the man from Ironbark who struck the Sydney town, He wandered over street and park, he wandered up and down. He loitered here, he loitered there, till he was like to drop, Until at last in sheer despair he sought a barber’s shop. “‘Ere! shave... read more
Planet Ark – ‘The Seedling Bank’
Grants open until 25 February 2022 Planet Ark’s National Tree Day team launched ‘The Seedling Bank’ in 2019 to give communities and schools the funds they need to put seedlings in the ground. The program builds on the success of Australia’s largest tree planting and... read more
Hunter Local Land Services Seed Collection and Propagation
The HLLS volunteer crew would love to start getting their hands dirty, growing some plants for local landholders, landcarers and community groups. You can: = Give seed to LLS to propagate and support projects/hold in seed bank = Bring it to the nursery (Kooragang,... read more
Barrington Broom Monitoring
Hunter Region Landcare Network (HRLN) and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) are developing a program to engage volunteers as Citizen Scientists in Barrington Tops NP, to monitor the presence and control of Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius). HRLN Project... read more
Hunter Region Landcare heroes recognised at Australia Day Awards
Hunter Region Landcare Network congratulate Bill Dowling and Stephen Thatcher for having their hard work and dedication to the environment recognised at their regional 2023 Australia Day Awards. Dungog Shire Council – Environmental Citizen Award Bill Dowling and... read more
First Nations Feature – Cultural Burning at Curricabark: Walking together in conservation
This video documents a Cultural Burn conducted on private property in Curricabark, Biripi Country, as part of a collaborative conservation project – COBRA (Curricabark Open air Biodiversity Research laborAtory). The burn was facilitated by Indigenous... read more
Spreading the ‘Shorebird Word’
During the Summer School Holidays, Hunter Region Landcare Network held 2 Kids Storytime and Art Workshops to coincide with our Shorebird Exhibition at Tomaree Library. This exhibition, supported by stunning Shorebird Photographs provided by the Hunter Bird Observers... read more
Shorebird Feature: #sharetheshore with our Endangered Beach Nesting Birds
Australia is home to several species of waders and seabirds that nest on our ocean beaches and on the sandy shores, sandspits and islands within our estuaries. These environments are rich with marine life that the birds use to raise their families. Some birds, such as... read more
The Woodland Plant Helping Regent Honeyeaters from then Brink of Extinction
With less than 300 birds left in the wild, the Regent Honeyeater is a bird in dire need of help. These stunning birds will travel vast distances in search of food sources that provide high yields of nectar. Spotted Gum, Broad-leaved Ironbark, and Swamp Mahogany are... read more
Understanding Your Property By the Property Detective Part 7
Water and my Property An abundant feature of many locations during the past year, has been significant rainfall. A further issue has been the impact of downstream flows that can have an impact even though rainfall at the location was not necessarily high! The... read more
Tabbil Creek to Martins Creek Corridor Project
A unique project has started within the Tabbil Creek to Martins Creek Corridor, extending from Bingleburra in the North to Martins Creek in the South. The project is set to create opportunities to engage landowners around natural regeneration and revegetation,... read more
The Soil Food Web Part 2
This month, lets talk about organic matter and its role in the soil food web. “Soil organic matter” includes all the organic substances in or on the soil. These include: Living organisms: Bacteria, fungi, nematodes, protozoa, earthworms, arthropods, and living roots.... read more
Training opportunities: Big Scrub Rainforest
Not so much a training opportunity as a look into what’s possible in Landcare. Big Scrub is a lowland subtropical rainforest on the north coast of NSW, once part of the great Gondwana rainforest. The Big Scrub Landcare group set about a long-term ecological... read more
NSW Parliamentary Friends of Landcare
What is it and what does it mean for us in the Hunter region? The NSW Parliamentary Friends of Landcare (PFL) is a cross-party group of NSW Members of Parliament who have a common interest in demonstrating support for the goals of Landcare and a commitment to... read more
Belltrees Primary School
Winners of the Sustainable Schools NSW, School of the Year Award for 2022. Net-Zero by the end of 2022! Teachers, students and the wider school community have undertaken activities to decrease their carbon footprint, rewild their school landscape and incorporate EE... read more
Register Your Interest as a Citizen Scientist for Shorebirds
Looking for conservation opportunities over the Summer? Assist University of Newcastle PhD Candidate, Mattea Taylor, in disturbance monitoring of our local Shorebirds around high tide. These surveys will be conducted over consecutive months, until April 2023. Register... read more
Aussie Ark Visit
Hunter Region Landcare Network’s visit to Aussie Ark this month was a joyful experience for all. We pitched in to do what Landcare does best- help plant and weed in the Tassie devil, Long nosed potoroo and Brush tailed rock wallaby enclosures. Scotch Broom is... read more
Mount Vincent Landcare regenerating Brunkerville Reserve
Mount Vincent Landcare group has recently taken stewardship of Brunkerville Reserve on Gills Lane, a One-hectare bushland reserve with 150m of frontage onto Brunkerville Creek. This beautiful natural reserve contains tree species from Coastal Foothills Spotted Gum... read more
Shorebird Feature: Bar-tailed Godwit
Last month, migratory shorebirds made global news headlines for setting a new World Record for the longest continuous migratory flight. Previously held by another Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica subsp. baueri), the juvenile flew for 13 560km over the Pacific... read more
Woodland Bird Feature: Regent Honeyeater
Did you know that the most important habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater is here in the lower Hunter Valley? Last month the local wild population was boosted with the release of 50 zoo-bred birds in the Tomalpin Woodlands, south of Kurri... read more
Understanding Your Property By the Property Detective Part 6
Soil As Landcarers we are conscious of the soil upon which we are working. Unfortunately, the soil structure in many locations has been altered through land clearing and unsustainable agricultural practices. Today most landholders seek to maintain and improve the... read more
Plant of the Month: Scribbly Gums
“The Gumnut Strike”. May Gibbs. Snugglepot and Cuddlepie. “They were surprised to see an Editor writing all about them in his newspaper. Gumnut Editors generally write backwards because they say it takes longer to read it that way, and people think they are getting... read more