The Scoop
Trees for Bees Grants 2026
The Trees for Bees Community Tree Grants support the planting of bee-friendly trees in extended gardens, community-owned land, school grounds, sporting club precincts and urban corridors. This year 40 grants of $500 are available for not-for-profit organisations,... read more
Landcare Australia BUPA Grants 2026
Landcare Australia and Bupa have partnered to deliver the 2026 Healthy Cities Landcare Grants. The aim is to support more nature regeneration projects that make urban spaces greener and healthier. Grants are available to environmental community groups and... read more
The Latest and Greatest Garden Escapees
Garden Escapees – It’s back and better than ever! Help is here! Terry Inkson has just launched his new – latest and greatest Garden Escapees and invasive plants of farms, bushland and reserves. The book, now in its sixth edition was launched at Tocal, and boasts 211... read more
Landcare Agony Aunt – Asparago Away
Landcare Agony Uncle: some seasonal advice for your Landcaring questions Dear Agony Aunt, We have a beautiful bush setting on our property but the understorey has a lot of Ground Asparagus. The birds sit in the trees above and poop the seeds everywhere. I don’t want... read more
State Funding Success for Regional Landcare
Hunter Region Landcare Network is pleased to announce we have received two significant grants in partnership with Mid Coast to Tops Landcare Connection, under the NSW Landcare Enabling Program. These grants are part of the $10 million funding package announced by... read more
Wine Country Weeds Day
On Friday 8th May, Hunter Valley Wine Country Landcare hosted their Wine Country – Weed Management for Vineyard Surrounds event, at Hunter Valley Resort/4 Pines. The event boasted seven guest speakers with a wealth of knowledge from varying backgrounds. ... read more
NSW Cultural Fire Strategy Released
On 4th June the NSW State Government released its first ever Cultural Fire Strategy. This is a new framework and action plan recognises Cultural Fire as a practice distinct from hazard reduction burning that has cultural and spiritual significance for Aboriginal... read more
Eucalypt Australia Grants
Eucalypt Australia has announced two new grant rounds for 2026: 1) Eucalypt Australia Research grants valued at $25,000 per annum for up to two years. Focus area: Eucalypts – including (but not limited to) ecology, conservation, genetics, taxonomy, history, cultural... read more
Hamer Sprout Fund 2026
Each year, the Hamer Sprout Fund will consider applications from organisations that share the fund’s goals. We are particularly interested in giving to smaller organisations and projects to get them off the ground. They welcome a call or e-mail to discuss your idea or... read more
Plant of the Month: Hey, Xanthorrhoea, it’s always good to see ya!
Plant of the Month: Hey, Xanthorrhoea, it’s always good to see ya! I’ve been around Grass Trees for quite some time, successfully relocating some, collecting seed and propagating, watching them burn more than once and watching them grow and become established. I’m by... read more
Landcare Agony Uncle – Trying to minimise the agony
Landcare Agony Uncle: some seasonal advice for your Landcaring questions Dear Agony Uncle, Yep, agony is the right word. I’m getting old, the joints don’t move as well as they once did. I love gardening and Landcare work but can’t move as much as I used to. Are... read more
Getting Climate Ready
“The climate is changing, and global modelling indicates that further change is already locked in. As a result, there is a growing risk of climate related impacts on our state’s natural, social and economic systems. Regional administrators, businesses and communities... read more
Wettenhall Environment Trust – Small Environmental Grant Scheme
These grants are for projects about flora and fauna conservation around Australia. Grants are issued four times a year, every year – February, May, August and November. These projects should involve any of the following: monitoring, recording and sharing data... read more
City of Newcastle Environmental Grants
Applications for the City of Newcastle 2026 Environment Grant program open on Monday, 4 May and close on Sunday, 31 May 2026. Grants of $2,000 – $10,000 (ex GST) are available. Outreach programs such as bioblitz or citizen science activities, installing... read more
Landcare Agony Aunt – A Case of the Dog-haired Blues
Landcare Agony Aunt: some seasonal advice for your Landcaring questions A Case of the Dog-Haired Blues Dear Agony Aunt, I recently fulfilled a lifelong dream and bought a rural property up the Valley. About five acres is a thicket of young wattles and eucalypts so... read more
Merriwa Nursery takes shape
Nursery News: Sorry, no Choccy Bickies! You may have heard, a while ago we were fortunate enough to get a grant from the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife for the construction of a community nursery at Merriwa. Well, after lots of issues with location and... read more
Alpha First Aid Grants
Alpha First Aid Grants 2026 To enable community centres, clubs, and not-for-profit organisations, no matter the size, to acquire your own Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Promoting the accessibility of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in community... read more
Birdlife Australia Grants
Birdlife Australia Grants 2026 Two grant streams support bird conservation by empowering passionate Australian groups to act for birds, with up to $10,000 in funding for projects that align with Birdlife Australia’s Bird Conservation Strategy. Grant Streams In 2026,... read more
Local Land Services On Farm Bush Regenerators’ Guides
Local Land Services have two excellent guides for budding farm bush regenerators. Land Managers Training Manual: bush regen techniques on farm Property Plan Template: bush regen weed control read more
Hollow Logs for Habitat Giveaway
Photo: Broke-Bulga Landcare group have great plans for their logs which will be used on private properties. A number of excited Landcare groups turned up with empty trailers and utes for the Hollow Log Giveaway this March. Many logs are already in place and waiting... read more
Landcare Agony Aunt – Which weed first?
Landcare Agony Aunt: some seasonal advice for your Landcaring questions Dear Agony Aunt, There are so many weeds! How do I know which ones I should prioritize? Where can I find quality information about these weeds for their identification and treatment? Yours,... read more
Plant of the Month: Rainforest Pop-Ups
Plant of the Month – Rainforest Pop Ups Regular readers of “The Scoop” will be familiar with the Hunter Rainforest Revival Project and the great work that’s being done to restore some of the lower Hunter’s Rainforest. Most will also be familiar with rainforests... read more
Meet the Hunter’s newest Landcare group
The Fletcher and Maryland wetlands margins are getting some serious tlc from this dynamic new group of Landcarers. Zoe, Bill, Wendy and Ing have kick-started the working bees this week by tracking through the bioswale and chasing down Tobacco Bush, Chinese Elms,... read more
The Big Bush Clean-Up 2026
Hosting a Clean Up Australia Day event has proved a great way for Landcare groups to get their community outdoors and involved in caring for the local environment. This is how many Landcare groups first got started in the ‘80s and ‘90s. This year a number of... read more
NAB Community Grants 2026
NAB Community Grants The NAB Foundation Community Grants program will run across two rounds in 2026. Round 1: opens from 16 February to 16 March, with funding awarded in June 2026. Round 2: opens from 17 August to 14 September, with funding awarded in December 2026.... read more
Awesome Foundation Grants 2026
The Awesome Foundation Grants Program These grants are for projects benefitting the Lake Macquarie and Lower Hunter communities. Each month, Awesome Lake Mac and the Lower Hunter provide $1,000 in grants to people with great ideas that can make these areas even more... read more
Creating the rainforests of the future
Creating the rainforests of the future, students from St Patrick’s Primary School Lochinvar have been helping repair and restore Country in the Maitland region. They have also written a book about it to guide and inspire other children and adults to do the same. ... read more
Landcare Agony Aunt – Bush Regen like a pro
Landcare Agony Aunt: some seasonal advice for your Landcaring questions Dear Agony Aunt, I’m leading our working bees, but not trained in ecology or anything like that. Where do I find out the best ways to do bush regen? Yours, Curious in Claro Dear Reader, Firstly,... read more
Plant of the Month: Not the Landcare Weed!
Plant of the Month – Not the Landcare Weed! Way back when dinosaurs roamed the earth and I was at TAFE doing Certificate 2 in Bush Regeneration* the instructor, a well known environmental consultant in the region, would refer to Lomandra longifolia as “the... read more
Good Neighbours for the RAMSAR Wetlands
We all need good neighbours and the Hunter Wetlands are no exception. This amazing habitat supports a vast number of plants, animals and migratory shorebirds, as well as being a nursery ground for fish and their food. The wetlands provide a buffer against sea level... read more
Wine Country Landcare growing strong
Founded in late 2021, Hunter Valley Wine Country Landcare (HVWCL) is a small, community-driven group dedicated to protecting and enhancing native biodiversity across the Lower Hunter Valley Wine Country region. Operating within Singleton and Cessnock LGAs, our core... read more
Landcare Agony Aunt – Wetland Warrior
Landcare Agony Aunt: some seasonal advice for your Landcaring questions Dear Agony Aunt, Our Landcare group has a beautiful wetland on our work site. Last year we noticed a pretty, yellow flowering plant along its margins and along the banks. It looked like a native... read more
Love Water Grants 2026
Hunter Water offers one-off payments of up to $10,000 to support community projects in the areas of water conservation, sustainability, wastewater and water education in the Lower Hunter. Applications open annually on 14th February and close on 14th March. Check this... read more
Indigenous Protected Areas Grants
Australian Bushland Program – New Indigenous Protected Areas Grants Closes 11th March 2026 The Australian Government is inviting applications via a targeted process to apply to deliver services under Program 2.1 Conserve, protect and sustainably manage... read more
Plant of the Month: Time to Give a Fig
Plant of the Month – Time to Give a Fig But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and none shall make them afraid; Micah 4:4 I’m generally more for “random musical references” kinda bloke but every now and then I’ll drag... read more
Turtle Tracking
Did you know the Hunter River Turtle is only found in our very own Hunter River system? You might have guessed from its name. 77 eggs were laid this summer in the Aussie Ark breeding program, which aims to prevent extinction of this unique animal. This rare and... read more
Biodiversity Conservation Trust e-learning
Study Conservation Land Management online with BCT. Free modules are available on strategies and practices to care for your land. There are no prior learning or eligibility requirements. Anyone interested in conservation can access the materials. Study conservation... read more
Scouts to the Rescue
Over 130 Scouts from across the Hunter and Central Coast joined Landcare to tackle weeds and rubbish along Myall Creek in Dungog this month. Sam and the team from ‘Sustaining the Williams Valley Landcare’ led students on a riparian adventure, discovering which plants... read more
Relocated Fauna
Landcare sites can be the recipients of suprise arrivals when people relocate animals from their backyards into “a bit of bush”. Some of these animals may get attacked by other fauna defending territories. They may also be in the wrong habitat type. A reminder that if... read more
Ausgrid Grants for Good
Ausgrid Grassroots Grants – Up to $5,000 These grants are in support of causes and organisations Ausgrid area communities care about. Who can apply? Charities, volunteer groups, local sports teams and organisations in the Ausgrid network area can apply for support... read more
Local Legends Grants
For 80+ years, Australians have been enjoying National Pies – at pie nights, at social clubs, and at footy matches big and small. To say thanks for your support, National Pies for Local Legends launched a grants program. Any registered Australian community group,... read more
Landcare Agony Aunt – Hesitant in the Hunter
Landcare Agony Aunt: some seasonal advice for your landcaring questions Dear Agony Aunt, On my recent travels across our picturesque Hunter Valley, everywhere I look, I’ve noticed an evergreen plant. It dominates roadsides and creek-lines and ventures out into... read more
5 Ways Drones are Helping Landcarers
If you are interested in how drones could help your property management or Landcare group, we have collated some examples from the Hunter and beyond that could work for your site. 1. Drones are mapping weeds in ‘hard to get’ places. Friends of Tomaree NP... read more
A Koala Corridor for Raymond Terrace
A Koala Corridor for Raymond Terrace (written by Raymond Terrace Landcare group) Raymond Terrace Landcare Group started over twenty years ago as a volunteer Group with Port Stephens Council called Raymond Terrace Parks, Reserves and Tidy Towns. Working with the... read more
A Year of Landcare in the Hunter
Christmas Greetings from our President As we approach the end of 2025, I wanted to take a moment to reach out to you all on behalf of the Hunter Region Landcare Network Committee. Reflecting on the past 12 months, it has been a year of both significant challenges and... read more
Drought Resilience Grants on Country
Applications are now open for the Future Drought Fund Strengthening Drought Resilience on Country Grant Program. The Australian Government has committed $12 million to this inaugural grant program under the Future Drought Fund that supports place-based, First... read more
Environmental Education Grants – Environmental Trust
The Environmental Trust’s Environmental Education program aims to: drive change in people’s behaviour and practices to improve on-ground environmental outcomes and build people’s skills to deliver environmental outcomes. The program funds projects that:... read more
Rural Landholder Grants – East Coast Disaster Relief 2025
The NSW and Australian governments have announced $10,000 Rural Landholder Grants to assist communities impacted by the NSW East Coast Severe Weather event that began on 18 May 2025 (AGRN 1212). Provided as part of the jointly funded Australian Government-State... read more
7 ideas for attracting younger volunteers
Think of the specific tasks you need younger volunteers to help with. Then be realistic about who the ideal people who could help with these tasks are. What skills and availability would they need? Understand the needs of the specific age bracket you hope to... read more
Landcare Agony Aunt – Unhygienic in Underbank
Landcare Agony Aunt: some seasonal advice for your landcaring questions Dear Agony Aunt, I have great neighbours – we support each other though many ways and I enjoy our afternoon teas at the end of a long day, BUT… their paddocks are full of Scotch Thistle and... read more
Plant of the Month: I heard it through the grapevine
To my mind, there’s three kinds of people who read “The Scoop”. There’s those who would have read the title of this month’s Plant of the Month and immediately thought of the late, great Marvin Gaye, there’s those who would have thought of the original version by... read more
Les’ Landcare Legacy
It was wonderful to catch up with Les Pearson at our regional Landcare Muster last month. Les made a huge contribution to Hunter Region Landcare Network between 2011 and 2024, and his skills and good humour are still greatly missed. Les joined HRLN by a different... read more
Get to know Chilean Needle Grass
The invasive Chilean Needle Grass (Nassella neesiana) from South America, although a ‘Weed of National Significance’ and commonly found along the east coast of Australia, is currently rarely found in the Hunter Valley and is isolated to a few small sections in the... read more
Woody Weeds at McCully’s Gap Landcare
On Thursday 23rd October, Hunter Local Land Services (HLLS) held a Woody Weeds Management Workshop at McCullys Gap, Muswellbrook. The day was well-attended by locals and those further up in the Hunter, with various talks on weed management strategies from numerous... read more
North Rothbury Bushcare
North Rothbury Bushcare group commenced back in early 2021. The group started with only a few local residents from North Rothbury village – all with the passion and vision to regenerate and restore remnant pockets of native vegetation. These pockets provide... read more
Ian Potter Foundation Grants
Through its Environment program, the Ian Potter Foundation is committed to investing in efforts to better manage our natural resources and preserve threatened biodiversity and ecosystems in the face of challenges such as land degradation, limited water resources,... read more
Aurizon Grants
Are you a charity with a project in the areas of health and wellbeing, community safety, environment or education? If you are looking for funding to complete a project or have a project in mind that you can’t achieve without assistance, we’re here to help. Aurizon... read more
Landcare Australia Volunteer Recruitment Guide
Check out this comprehensive guide from Landcare Australia. From gaining confidence with social media to holding conversations to let people know about your group, this guide is packed with useful tips to increase people’s awareness of your group and help you connect... read more
Birds of Prey Guides
Australian Raptor Care and Conservation Inc. have a suite of resources to educate the community about birds of prey. They aim to have a positive impact on raptor rehabilitation in Australia by improving the techniques employed by wildlife carers, boosting successful... read more