The Scoop
Resilience-building in Upper Yango
The Upper Yango Valley is on the eastern boundary of Yengo National Park, near Wollombi. It is occupied by 22 private landholdings on the traditional land of the Darkinjung people. Its rich meadows were important pathways to culturally significant sites at Big Yengo,... read more
Birdlife Australia Volunteer Programs
“Regent Honeyeater 2” by Mark Gillow is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Landcarers with an interest in birds may be interested in the Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) Guardians project. For this citizen science project volunteers carry out health checks of key areas... read more
Landcare Agony Aunt – Balloon Vine Gone Ballistic
Landcare Agony Aunt: some seasonal advice for your landcaring questions Image credit: “Cardiospermum grandiflorum plant NC1” by Macleay Grass Man is licensed under CC BY 2.0. Dear Agony Aunt, I recently moved to a new property. I am dealing with mountains... read more
Time to Outsmart Weeds
When is the best time for Bitou bashing or Boneseed bombardment? If you haven’t already got one, outsmart weeds by making a weed action calendar for your property or Landcare site. You could also add the best times to do frog, invertebrate, creek health, bird or... read more
Plant of the Month: Call me Ishmael
“Call me Ishmael. Some years ago—never mind how long precisely—having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off... read more
Landcare Agony Aunt – Volunteer Shortage
Landcare Agony Aunt: some seasonal advice for your landcaring questions Dear Agony Aunt, We used to have big working bees, now there are only three of us doing all the work. How can we attract more volunteers to our group? Does anybody care? from Melancholy in... read more
Plant of the Month: Not those blueberries?!
For those of you waiting for the thrilling conclusion of the key to the Eucalypts of the Hunter Region you’ll just have to wait a little longer as I wade through the stringybarks, but I’ll get there, eventually, probably. You may have seen some stories on the Hunter... read more
Soaring with the Sea Eagles
Congratulations to Carmel Brown, Team Leader of Catherine Hill Bay Landcare and HRLN committee member, who was the recent recipient of the John Hughson ‘Soaring with the Eagles’ Award. This is the highest honour in the Lake Macquarie Landcare Network Environmental... read more
Lambs Valley Landcare Housing Crisis Eased
Lambs Valley Landcare eases the housing crisis for native fauna Lambs Valley Landcare held a nest box workshop for their members on the 29th January with 12 families attending, and another 5 interested, making 17 families who will have new nesting boxes on their... read more
Healing Country: A Landcare and Cultural Immersion Experience
Despite the blustery weather on Friday 17th January, this workshop was fully booked out, with Landcarers gathering at 4pm at Minimbah Teaching Place Bulga, to access Cultural Knowledge. HRLN partnered with the Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT), Allison Warry and... read more
Plant of the Month: The Littlest Aliens!
There are times I, and many others, question my sanity, deciding to write up a key to the Eucalypts of the Hunter has been one of those times. It was all going well till I got to the Stringybarks and Mahoganies. I’ve been wading my way through it for the past couple... read more
Hunter Rainforest Revival
Stacy Mail is heading up a team to deliver a 5-year education and training program to revive the Lower Hunter Dry Rainforest thanks to funding from the NSW Environmental Trust, with partners Hunter Local Land Services and Maitland City Council. The project aims are... read more
Obelisk Hill-Arcadia Park Landcare Report 2024
Have you ever walked along the Newcastle foreshore and explored the bushland reserves and parks along the way? There are quite a number of Landcare groups along the coast and they work alongside each other making a larger Super Group to help each other out, share... read more
A Native Botanic Garden in Newcastle: Explore Arcadia Park
Have you visited Arcadia Park recently? This beautiful reserve in the heart of Newcastle offers a serene escape, perfect for a hot summer’s day. Wander through bushland trails shaded by native trees, discover grassy picnic spots, and immerse yourself in the... read more
Happy 100th Birthday to Church Walk Park!
The Friends of Church Walk Park Landcare group is located in The Hill, Newcastle. They recently celebrated 100 years since the Park was established by the City of Newcastle Council. An art deco themed community open day attracted over 120 people. Activities included... read more
Wollombi Valley – The Inside Story!
The famous Wollombi Landcare group has recently held a very successful Wollombi Valley – The Inside Story! landholder workshop, courtesy of the Biodiversity Conservation Trust and HRLN. The day was jam-packed full of riveting guest speakers, leaving the 50 +... read more
Biodiversity Boost for Rutherford Landcare
Rutherford Landcare’s biodiversity boost project worth $12200 is auspiced by Hunter Region Landcare Network. Rutherford Landcare site is Lower Hunter Spotted Gum Ironbark, an Endangered Ecological Community under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act.... read more
Habitat Haven in the Park Funded
Earthcare Park Landcare’s ‘Habitat Haven in the Park’ project has received funding of $14,150, enabling vital conservation efforts in the area. This initiative focuses on planting 4,000 locally indigenous tubestock, with an emphasis on restoring native grass and... read more
Unravelling the Mysteries of Hunter Valley Dry Rainforest
It was a rare treat to take a slideshow walk and then a real rainforest walk with expert botanist Dr. Bill McDonald, co-author of The Red Book “Rainforest Trees and Shrubs”. Bill travelled down from Queensland for this event in Dungog on the 23rd/24th November. This... read more
Cockatoo Corridors: Planting for the Future
Hunter Intrepid Landcare has secured the Landcare Australia Glossy Black-Cockatoo Habitat Planting Grant to support the conservation of the vulnerable Glossy Black-Cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami). This species relies heavily on she-oak trees for feeding and large... read more
Hunter Intrepid Recent Events: A Focus on Conservation and Community
Hunter Intrepid has hosted a variety of engaging events recently, aimed at fostering environmental stewardship and community involvement: Fungi Walk and Talk: In collaboration with Monty Sharma from Urban Botanica Collective, participants explored the fascinating... read more
Burwood Beach Bitou Bush Bash
A group of Hunter Intrepid volunteers met on a Sunday morning in late October to tackle infestations of Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. rotundata at Burwood Beach in Glenrock SCA. Supervised by National Parks, our group got to work hand-removing Bitou Bush... read more
Become a Citizen Scientist with NatureMapr
NatureMapr gets the plant and animal sightings you make to the conservationists who need to know about it. Aaron Clausen transformed his view of Canberra Nature Park when he nearly trampled a colony of the critically endangered Canberra Spider Orchid. Intrigued by... read more
Promote Your Hunter Landcare Group
As Landcare group AGMs unfold across our region, we encourage you to ensure your contact details are up to date. If you’ve recently made changes or just want to verify your information, reach out to our dedicated Landcare Support Officer, Helen Rubeli, at... read more
A Passion for Purpletop
The fabulous group of Greta Landcarers held yet another industrious working bee on Wednesday 16th October at Greta Central Park. The group gathered to deal with the dreaded purple top (Verbena bonariensis), which was dug out, and to keep the ever arising Lantana under... read more
Putty 3 Valleys Group Needs Support
The weather was fine for the annual Putty Spring Fair held on Sunday 6th October. Residents and visitors to the area gathered at the Putty Hall to celebrate the Putty Valley’s people and place. Woodcutters provided entertainment with post cutting and splitting, whilst... read more
Aries Way Landcare Orchid Discovery
The Aries Way Landcare group in Elermore Vale, Newcastle have made a new discovery along their creek paradise, 300+ Upright Maroon Hood Orchids (Pterostyliserecta), not seen before onsite. The group have been working for 15 years to restore a large stretch of Willai... read more
Join Nature’s Network
The next HRLN committee meeting is 12.30-2.30pm on Monday 25th November at Hunter Local Land Services, Tocal, near Paterson. Bring your landcare questions, contribute ideas and be inspired by what is going on across our region. All landcarers are welcome (novice or... read more
Have Your Say – The Scoop 2025
We are reviewing The Scoop content and format for 2025 and would love to get your feedback. What do you like in the Scoop and what is less helpful? Please give your feedback in a 6 question survey. Thank you! Complete Survey Now read more
Newcastle Inner City Bypass – Conservation
Great news for the conservation of plant species from around the Newcastle Inner City Bypass – Rankin Park to Jesmond. The Hunter Region Landcare Network, Trees in Newcastle, and Fulton Hogan have been working together to ensure the conservation of plant... read more
Let’s Muster!
We need YOU to share your ideas on a Landcare volunteer celebratory event for early 2025 – a Regional Landcare Muster! It’s been a couple of years since our last region-wide gathering at Minimbah Teaching Place in Broke/ Bulga, so it’s definitely time to... read more
What is an Individual membership of HRLN?
Individual membership is for anyone who wish to be part of and support of our network. Membership supports our events and projects that strengthen Landcare across the Hunter. The $10 membership fee gives you free tickets for HRLN events for a year and early bird... read more
Koala Habitat Workshop at Belltrees School
On Saturday 21st September 2024, Meg Drinan and Paul Melehan (our Mid and Upper Hunter Local Landcare Coordinators) worked with our partners The Biodiversity Conservation Trust to deliver a Koala Habitat Workshop at Belltrees Public School. The workshop included a... read more
Help Track Bogong Moths
Bogong Moth image with key identifiers. Image credit: Zoos Victoria – Moth Tracker – The Royal Society of Victoria (rsv.org.au) The skies were filled with insects a few weeks ago in many parts of the Hunter region. HRLN uploaded a photo of one of 100s of... read more
Thank You Les Pearson
September has marked the poignant retirement from the Hunter Region Landcare Committee of a highly valued Life Member and former Chair of the network who has made outstanding contributions to Landcare. Photo of Leslie Pearson (right) and Stephen Thatcher Leslie... read more
AGM Wrap Up
Hunter Region Landcare Network is run by a volunteer committee of people who are involved in their own Landcare groups and also choose to support and create collaboration for regional projects that build Landcare across the Hunter. We just held our AGM and your new... read more
Lantana: Beware of Mount Vincent Landcarers!
The Mount Vincent Landcare group has recently launched a fresh assault on various weeds at their new project site. Mulbring Public School has a spare block of land adjacent to the school that runs down to Wallis Creek. Owned by the Department of Education and overrun... read more
Plant of the Month: All the colours of the rainbow!
Well, not really, that’s reserved for the Rainbow Gum (Eucalyptus deglupta) which is a native of the Philippines but we are getting into the “coloured” gums, Blues, Browns, Greys and Reds. So, we’re on the smooth barked, valves “exserted” (sticking out) from the... read more
New Australians learn from Nature Advocates
Language, soil and gardening knowledge came together in Singleton on Saturday 29th June. Singleton Soil Sister Ernie Harbott and Singleton Community Gardens President Paige Gough came to Singleton Library to chat with SELFNA Inc. (Singleton English Lessons for New... read more
NAIDOC Week and National Tree Day celebratory working bee at Yallarwah Place
Hunter Region Landcare Network are thrilled to be involved in helping regenerate bushland at Yallarwah Place, John Hunter Hospital, Awabakal Country, as part of Yallarwah’s 25th anniversary celebrations. This unique area of Hunter Coast Lowland Apple Bloodwood forest... read more
A Magical Mystery Tour for Landcare Week
Thank you to Stephen Thatcher (HRLN President) and Clare Shrimpton (Dungog Commoners Landcare) for the information in this report. As part of Landcare Week celebrations last month, an informative and enjoyable bus trip took 50 landcarers from various Hunter landcare... read more
Recap: NSW Landcare Enabling Program 2024 State Gathering
Our network representatives are fresh back from the NSW Landcare Enabling Program 2024 State Gathering. This event involved 3 days of talks, presentations and workshops held at North Head Quarantine Station near Manly, on Gayemagal Country. The photo above was taken... read more
HRLNwildlife100
Landcare Week is just around the corner (5th-11th August). As part of the celebrations of what landcarers achieve together, Hunter Region Landcare Network is celebrating the native animals that are using your landcare site(s). We are aiming to share 100+ photos of... read more
Governance Training for Landcare Groups
Sounds like a boring topic right? Governance is traditionally one of those topics that groups either avoid or are unaware of, yet it is crucial for your group activities and insurance coverage. Governance doesn’t have to be a dry, boring subject. Recently the Hunter... read more
Grant Writing for Landcare Groups
Did you know that your Local Landcare Coordinator can support you in writing a grant application for local Landcare activities and projects? You can also participate in up-coming grant writing training sessions. Please get in touch with us for more info. read more
Photo Points: Monitoring Results on your Landcare Site
A photo point is a simple but really effective tool for monitoring progress on your ecological restoration site. Before and after photos can motivate volunteers, demonstrate impact to your local community and be used as evidence when applying for or reporting on... read more
Abbotts Flat Update – Sustaining the Williams Valley Inc. Landcare
In August 2023, Sustaining the Williams Valley Inc. fenced the riparian zone along Abbotts Flat to begin rehabilitating the south side of the Williams River in Dungog. The resilience of the ecosystem is now apparent and the group has been witnessing the natural... read more
Luskintyre Landcare – The New Container
In late June, HRLN joined Luskintyre Landcare members to celebrate the opening of their new storage container. The container is more than just a storage unit; it serves as a communal place to house tools, equipment and a place to meet and connect. The Landcare sign... read more
Hunter Region Planning for the next 4 years of the Landcare Program
Our Coordinators from the Hunter Region Landcare Network are now scheduling visits to all Landcare groups and private landowner Landcare groups in the Hunter region to assess the needs and capture the ideas of each group/ area for the next 4 years of the Landcare... read more
PLCM: Paddock Trees for Koalas Project
Hunter Region Landcare Network and Mid Coast 2 Tops Landcare Connection are working with private landowners who have paddock trees that may provide habitat and a stepping stone for koalas and other fauna, either as feed trees or habitat trees. Through this project,... read more
PLCM: Reconnecting and Restoring Koala Habitats Recap
Dungog Area Workshop Wrap-Up Koala habitat mapping as part of the NSW Koala Strategy 2021 – 2026 identified Koala ARKS (Areas of Regional Koala Significance), one of which (Barrington ARKS) falls within the Hunter Region. Private lands play a crucial role in... read more
New Resource: Koala Smart Website
Exciting News! Koala Smart is thrilled to announce the launch of their brand-new website! Koala Smart is an educational program designed for Primary and Secondary schools. The website equips teachers with classroom-ready resources like Lesson Plans and Worksheets to... read more
Exciting Orchid News
Whilst most people were out celebrating a day off for the King’s Birthday long weekend on Monday 10th June, Broke/Bulga Landcare were out celebrating the appearance of Pterostyllis gibbosa (Illawarra Greenhood orchid) that has been a long standing yet often concealed... read more
Lake Liddell Planting
On the blustery morning of Wednesday 12th June, volunteers from Newcastle Greater Mutual Group, plus some enthusiastic landcarers, braved the cold and wind and turned up in their droves for a planting day at Lake Liddell Recreation Area Reserve. Equipped with plants,... read more
Recent Awards and Finalists
Australian Government Community Partnerships Award Congratulations to the Lake Macquarie Landcare Volunteer Network (LMLVN) Committee who won the Australian Government Community Partnerships Award at the 2023/2024 State and Territory Landcare Awards this June. Back... read more
Membership Now Due – July 2024
A friendly reminder that Membership renewal fees are now due (1st July 2024). Landcare group membership $25.00 annually. Individual membership $10.00 annually. Membership fees can be paid here Benefits of HRLN group membership: NEW from July 2024... read more
June Committee Meeting
This month’s Hunter Region Landcare Network committee meeting was held at Lake Liddell Recreation Area. Together we enjoyed a great day out, interesting topics for discussion and an inspiring tour of the restoration on site led by Stephen Thatcher….not to mention... read more
Nursery Update – May 2024
Not many plants out this month but another thousand or so potted up for spring, Acacia buxifolia, Angophora floribunda, Eucalyptus tereticornis have been potted up with a heap of Lomandra longifolia to be potted up in the next couple of weeks as well as the gorgeous... read more
Rising from the Embers Festival 2024 Recap
It was fantastic to be part of this year’s Rising from the Embers Festival under clear skies and tall trees at Callaghan Campus, University of Newcastle. Many good conversations were shared with visiting students and fellow stall-holders. We had a lot of interest in... read more