Yass Landcare President Glenda Snape congratulated the winners and runners up of our environmental art competition, judged at the Yass Library. Artworks will be on display at the Yass Library for all to view until Friday 12 December.

 

Winners and runners up in each age group are summarised below.

 

   

Photos: Yass Landcare President Glenda Snape congratulating Knox Taylor on his winning artwork ‘Chameleon on a Branch’; 6 years and under winner Knox Taylor with one of Yass’ local favourite artists Roger Buckman. Artwork title: Chameleon on a Branch.

6 Years and under ‘Chameleon on a Branch’

Winners: Knox Taylor

Runner Up: Arlo Wilson - Rainbow Serpent

 

       

 

Under 12 years

Winners: Mila Garrety Title: Southern Bell Frog

Runner Up: Alice Butt Title: Warragul Snake

Extra category Sculpture

Winners: Katie Jackson - Turtle!!

Runner Up: Evelyn Morris - Blotched Blue Tongue Lizard

 

12 - 18 years

Winners: Milla Shelton - Artwork title: Away

Runner Up: Buhlebenkosi ( Kosi) Nyathi - Artwork title: Urban Sprawl

 

   

Photos: Open Winner - Pauline Balos with one of three judges Sophie Baker. Artwork title: Knight Errant; Yass Landcare President Glenda Snape discussing the difficulty of judging the entries with judge Sophie Baker!

 

Winners: Pauline Balos - Artwork title: Knight Errant 

Runner Up: Ruth Dodd - Artwork title: Water Dragon

 

We encourage everyone to drop in to the Yass Library to see the winning entries and the very talented local artists we have in our district. Entries will be on display until Friday12th - 1pm

 

All of our artists achieved much praise for their creativity, skill and effort from the viewers to the exhibition. Judging was based on how well the image reflected and responded to the theme 'Reptiles and Amphibians in our Landscape and Environment', Visual impact and Technical Skill and creativity

 

      

 

 

Yass Landcare committee and Art competition organisers would like to begin by warmly thanking the wonderful staff of Yass Library and the dedicated volunteers from Yass Landcare. Your enthusiasm and hard work have made this event not only possible, but truly special.

 

We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our generous sponsors—Wildbark and the Mulligans Flat Centre, and the Canberra Reptile Zoo—for their amazing generosity in providing vouchers. Their support helps encourage participation and fosters a deeper connection with our local environment.

 

A very special thank-you goes to our three judges:

Roger Buckman, a respected and much-loved local artist;

Sally Rasmussen, a highly accomplished local artist and manager of Tyger Gallery;

and Sophie Baker, an artist from Canberra who paints beautifully in nature.

We are incredibly grateful for the time, care, and expertise each of judge has contributed.

 

To all our entrants—thank you. With 98 entries this year, the response has been extraordinary. It has been a truly rewarding experience to see the creativity, care, and curiosity you’ve brought to your work.

 

We hope this event encourages people of all ages to look more closely at our local environment—its landscapes, its habitats, and the remarkable wildlife that lives around us. When we pay attention, we discover just how much there is to appreciate and protect.

On 25 November, community members came together at Sutton Village Reserve for a practical and informative weed and native plant identification walk.

 

The walk was led by Bella Hart and Alicia Kaylock from Southeast Local Land Services, with valuable support from Brett Lees, Biosecurity Officer at Yass Valley Council. Weed control activities at the site are being co-funded by Crown Lands, highlighting the importance of partnership in managing public land.

 

 

Participants focused on some of the major weeds impacting our region, including African Lovegrass, St John’s Wort, Serrated Tussock and blackberries. A key theme of the walk was learning how to confidently identify these species, particularly as some have native “look-alikes”. Developing this more detailed knowledge helps landholders and volunteers distinguish the good from the bad and make informed management decisions.

 

 

The group also discussed tools that can assist with weed identification, including the NSW WeedWise app, available on both Apple and Android devices. These resources are proving invaluable for ongoing learning in the field.

 

Looking ahead, Sutton Landcare is actively considering suitable native species to replace weeds once control works are undertaken. Avoiding bare soil is essential to prevent reinfestation and support healthy regeneration.

 

Thank you to everyone who participated, and especially to Alicia, Bella and Brett for generously sharing their expertise.

 

Written by Arnold Dekker, Sutton Landcare

A day of learning, connection, and inspiration at Scholfield’s TSR

 

Many Landcarers and community members turned out for the popular Below Our Knees: Exploring Our Native Grasslands workshop, held at Scholfield’s Travelling Stock Reserve (TSR) near Bywong. Jointly hosted by the Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups (YAN) and the Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Council, the workshop brought together experts, local Landcarers, and curious community members to learn more about managing and restoring our native grasslands.

 

    

 

Understanding the value of native grasslands

 

The day began with Friends of Grasslands (FOG) ecologist Sue McIntyre, who introduced the group to the ecology, value, and management needs of native grasslands. Sue emphasised one crucial rule: don’t fertilise. Native grasslands thrive in low-nutrient environments, and where past fertiliser use or pasture improvement has occurred, it can take decades for nutrient levels to drop enough for native species to return.

But the long wait is worth it—many native grassland plants are hardy perennials that offer year-round groundcover, productive grazing, rich biodiversity, and habitat for insects, birds, and a wider ecosystem, all while requiring very little intervention.

 

      

 

Sue also explained how weeds often invade grasslands via runoff lines, where both nutrients and seeds accumulate. While small-scale erosion can create opportunities for native species to establish, more severe erosion tends to favour exotic annual weeds. Maintaining groundcover and slowing water movement, using logs or other small interventions can make a significant difference.

 

Restoring native grasslands, Sue reminded everyone, is a long game requiring patience, consistency, and strategic weed management. Allowing native species to spread naturally, or assisting them through targeted planting, can slowly shift degraded areas back toward ecological resilience.

 

   

 

Exploring the reserve

 

The group then toured the reserve with FOG members Margaret Ning, David Johnson, and Sue, who pointed out species of interest and shared insights into native–exotic look-alikes (including plantain). Participants enjoyed hands-on plant identification and lively discussion among the grasses.

 

      

 

   

 

Weed identification and management

 

Local Land Services officers Bella Hart and Alicia Kaylock then led a practical session on weed identification and control within grassland ecosystems. They covered key strategies for managing blackberry; choosing the right herbicide, timing treatments, and considering factors such as residual effects on nearby plants and what is practical to achieve with consistent effort.

 

   

 

Weed ID and control methods were also discussed for serrated tussock, African lovegrass, and St John’s wort. The message was clear: consistency is the key, and even simple tools can be powerful—nothing beats a good old-fashioned hoe.

 

Learning the history of the reserve

 

David McDonald from the local Geary’s Gap/Wamboin Landcare Group shared some of the history of the TSR, including the origins of the Scholfield name and how the reserve once formed part of a much larger protected area.

 

        

 

Collaboration and community: tackling weeds together

 

The group then moved to the Bywong Community Hall to hear from Dr Sonia Graham from the University of Wollongong. Sonia presented her research on how Landcare groups work together to tackle weed issues across landscapes.

She highlighted approaches that lead to success:

• - Defining a clear geographic focus
• - Setting achievable goals
• - Assigning tasks based on people’s strengths
• - Involving the whole community—from landholders to government agencies
•  

Beyond the environmental outcomes, Sonia also spoke about the powerful social benefits: reducing isolation, building emotional support, and forging new friendships among neighbours.

 

   

 

Local connections and next steps

 

After Sonia’s presentation, participants broke into smaller, geographic-specific groups to introduce themselves, discuss issues important to their local area, and share ideas. Conversations continued over lunch, strengthening connections and sparking enthusiasm for future collaborations.

As a follow-on from the workshop, YAN and our partners hope to support interested groups to connect and work together on issues and activities they care about. If you’d like to get involved—or simply learn more—please reach out to your local Landcare group or coordinator.

 

   

 

   

 

Get in touch

 

Gearys Gap / Wamboin Landcare
[email protected]

Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups
[email protected]

Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Council
[email protected]

 

Written by Sarah McGrath, YAN Local Coordinator

 

Murrumbateman Landcare turned plenty of heads at this year’s Murrumbateman Field Days with a tremendous display all about our local lizards. From feisty little stone geckos to the goannas that stride through our paddocks, the full cast of scaly neighbours was represented.

 

       

 

The team also highlighted some of the region’s rare and endangered species, including the striped legless lizard and the ever-intriguing earless dragon. Visitors could learn about the habitats these species rely on and what we can do as a community to protect them.

 

Volunteers from Murrumbateman Landcare spent the weekend chatting with curious locals about everything from lizards to the broader work Landcare contributes in the village. The conversations ranged wide: the Murrumbateman nursery, stewardship of local reserves, advocacy, biodiversity, native plant choices, and simple ways residents can make their gardens more wildlife-friendly.

 

         

 

             

 

One volunteer summed up the vibe beautifully: “But I have to say that talking to the kids was my highlight. So many switched-on, thoughtful young people.”

The kids certainly had a ball. The hands-on “lizard gardens” were a hit, giving young naturalists plenty to poke, investigate and imagine. It was a joyful reminder of how much wonder these events spark for the next generation of nature lovers.

 

   

 

If you’re keen to explore the incredible variety of lizards living right here in our region, check out the NatureMapr guide below or get in touch with Murrumbateman Landcare’s growing crew of lizard experts.

 

Nature Mapr Southern Tablelands Reptiles

 

A big thanks to all of the volunteers who spent thier time creating displays, collecting information, seting up and showcasing lizards to our community.

 

Written by Sarah McGrath, YAN Local Coordinator