New to Landcare
Is this your first time thinking about Landcare?
Find out about Landcare right here, right now.
“Landcare is for everyone.”
What is Landcare?
- A grassroots movement, supported by all three levels of government and the private sector.
- People working together in a catchment to combat soil erosion, pests & diseases, loss of habitat for local flora & fauna.
- Communities coming together to care for our environment.
- People working together to return the bushland, creeks, wetlands or beach to the wondrous place they remember from their childhood.
- Community building. It creates friendships, nurtures your soul and keeps you fit, it helps develop your sense of place, provides opportunities for you to make a difference and its fun.
Community Landcare: 30 years old
In 1989 Bob Hawke, the then Prime Minister of Australia, declared the 1990s to be the Decade of Landcare to address land degradation across Australia.
30 years later, after great successes and many challenges, the Landcare movement continues to engage, educate and enable local people to find and implement local solutions to local problems.
Who are community land carers?
As the name suggests, “Community Landcare” is all about local communities coming together to address local natural resource management issues.
Community Landcarers come from all walks of life. All ages can participate; from preschoolers to senior citizens!
Some Landcarers are:
- Organisers
Nurturers
Teachers
Tea Makers - Weeders & Planters
Digging Machines
Leaders
Listeners
“All are welcome on a Landcare site.”
Who supports Landcare?
-
Landcarers
Through local groups, and district, regional, state, and national networks. Landcare groups will happily share their local knowledge and experience with new members. In addition to their local Landcare contributions, some Landcarers also volunteer their time and efforts to represent the Landcare movement to potential funding supporters, promote Landcare to the wider community and champion us when others have competing needs and/or wants.
-
Governments
All three levels of government have a role to play in supporting Community Landcare.
The Australian government through the National Landcare Program.
The NSW government through the NSW Landcare Support Program.
Local government through a range of structures that support the engagement of local communities in caring for their natural environment.
“Our goal is to make Landcare Core Business of Government.”
-
We do!
The Hunter Region Landcare Network has developed support structures to support Landcarers in our region. We are a representative group from across the region with considerable experience in all things Landcare.
We have secured funding from Hunter Local Land Services to facilitate workshops and field-days, hosted by the local Landcare group, to engage, educate and enable Landcarers.
We partner with other government agencies to facilitate partnerships between government and the community for the benefit of the environment.
“We are a conduit to and from state
and national Landcare networks
and government.”
-
Paid Staff
The Hunter Region Landcare Network is the host organisation for three part-time projects in our region, Lower, Mid and Upper Hunter. Meet our team.
Who funds Landcare?
-
Do you need money?
A minimum requirement is a group of like-minded people looking for, and implementing solutions for the issues at hand. Volunteers can undertake many of the activities Landcarers might do. -
Funding Opportunities
Local councils, local suppliers of goods and services, and your Regional & District Networks may be able to help with funding through grants or donations. -
Applying for funding? We can help!
Designing a project that others might want to fund is the first step. Your project might help them achieve their goals.
We have secured funding from Hunter Local Land Services to facilitate workshops and field-days, hosted by the local Landcare group, to engage, educate and enable Landcarers.
We partner with other government agencies to facilitate partnerships between government and the community for the benefit of the environment.
Planning your project
-
Develop a “shelf project“
Clearly set out your goals, the issues you want to address, and the steps you propose to address them. -
Identify what’s needed
The resources required, metres of fencing, number of tubestock, mulch and plant protection, etc. and/or contractor time required. You will also need to estimate the in-kind contributions of your group, this is usually estimated at $30/ph. -
Acknowledge Contributions
Be sure to include contributions discounts and freebies from suppliers, council. -
Find Funding
Look for funding programs that share your goals
Landcare Members
Already involved in Landcare?
Here’s what we have on offer.
“We are Landcare.”
Apply for grants
National Landcare Program: Smart Farms Small Grants Round 4
The Australian Government is inviting applications for projects to deliver services under the National Landcare Program – Smart Farms Small Grants Round 4.
Natural Resource Management Drought Resilience Program Grants
Natural Resource Management Drought Resilience Program Funding: $10 million Summary: The program will provide grants of between $20,000 and $200,000 to organisations, farmer groups and individuals to build drought resilience on agricultural landscapes. A competitive...
Hunter Region Landcare Workshop grants 2020-2021
Thanks to the generous support of the Hunter Local Land Services, HRLN once again has funding available for a series of field-days/workshops, hosted by our Member Groups, on topics of interest to the Landcarers in their local area.Previous events have included woody...
Access Resources
The Fern Creek Gully Landcare Squirrel Glider Documentary
Toby Davidson’s wonderful documentary on our Squirrel Glider project and the great team and the great supporters that made it happen.
Work Health and Safety Resources
Yeah, I know, WHS can be pretty tedious and while you may be operating safely in your farm, work or Landcare activities if something were to happen and someone were to get injured then without documented procedures and risk assessments you could be liable to expensive...
Video: Axe Restoration with Paul
How I restore axes, you may do it differently but this works for me. Of course the golden rule with restorations of this type, as little as possible, as much as necessary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TVVwQvnCe0
Come along to Events
Upcoming Events
Events List Navigation
Biodiversity Conservation Trust & Landcare
We are hosting a 'building understanding' workshop online over two mornings on Friday 23rd & Friday 30th October, to propose, develop, and discuss biodiversity ideas for projects supporting private land conservation in the Hunter region. There will also be landcarers from the Greater Sydney and Mid Coast to Tops Networks joining us to share ideas. Even if you don’t undertake landcare activities on private land, we encourage you to attend as we need the views and ideas of all people…
Shorebirds Training Workshops
Due to COVID restrictions, the workshops are limited to only 20 people. If you would like to attend, please send your expression of interest Milly.
Shorebirds Training Workshops
Due to COVID restrictions, the workshops are limited to only 20 people. If you would like to attend, please send your expression of interest Milly.
Local Leaders Course
Do you want to start a new project?Enhance an existing inititative?Take on a community leadership role?Strengthen your networks?If you answered yes, then our Local Leaders Course is for you!This is an opportunity to collaborate and deepen skills to lead, build long-term networksand develop problem-solving skills. This leadership course builds community, rural,industry and government leadership capacity, with resilience and sustainability. The course will run for nine days in total (3 x three-day residential sessions), involvingworkshops and project work. Experienced facilitators Global…