A group of landholders soaked up the wisdom and practical advice from some of our region's most experienced ecological scientists and practitioners.

Sue McIntyre and her husband Jon Lewis hosted the event on their property Gang-Gang, north west of Gundaroo. Well known locals Alison Elvin and Owen Whitaker contributed to the conversation with their considerable expertise in vegetation restoration and farming practices.

Sue and Jon have been caring for Gang-Gang for 20 years. In Sue's words "Our aim has been to create an open woodland, with a diverse perennial ground layer, and trees and shrubs at different densities to provide structural diversity, suitable for both grazing and native fauna habitat." Further background to the property and Sue and John's management can be found in Sue's pre-event blog:  West End Story.

We got to see the results of five stages of revegetation, which have concentrated on re-introducing shrubs to the landscape. Simply removing stock pressure allowed Eucalypts regeneration and a strong cover of perennial grasses to develop. The exhaustion of applied fertilisers has also been key to achieving natural eucalypt regeneration and dominance of natives in the ground layer.

Sue emphasised the importance of the perennial grasses and other grazing-resistant ground layer species for future climate resilience. They are able to survive severe droughts, and when heavy rains come, they protect the soil from erosion. Less palatable species are able to protect grazing-sensitive, softer plants when grazing pressure is high, and therefore maintain diversity. Sue described the native grasses as “resistant” (to grazing and drought) but not “resilient". That is, they will not recover from sustained use of fertilisers or cultivation.

Wattles play an important part by gently fixing nitrogen and often providing a protective nursery beneath them. In the most recent drought, Sue and Jon observed a small patch of Sticky Everlasting Daisy (Xerochrysum viscosum) surviving under wattles, which were then able to spread widely when the rains finally came. 

Sue and Jon have observed a dramatic increase in the population of small birds since the wattles have been added to the landscape. Parrots also visit to feed on the wattle seed, and at the end of the life of wattles when grubs are in the wood, Yellow Tailed Black Cockatoos arrive to feast.

Graziers were recommended to "farm grass, not animals", and to be open to being flexible with livestock numbers in the interest of protecting the health of the grassland.

It was emphasised that observation skills are the most important skill a land manager can have. The presenters encouraged everyone to trust their observations, as we are all learning. Owen suggested that we get to know plants "like another person", as well as getting to know their names.

Despite a rain shower everyone stayed until the end, thoroughly enjoying the place, the learning, and interacting with one another.

Yass Landcare celebrated NSW Women's week with a Wildflower sowing at the Landcare Community Nursery on 9 March. Wildflower seeds are very fine and blow easily in the breeze but once sown and topped with a fine layer of sand to settle the seed, they were watered and placed in the hot house to see if they will germinated over the coming weeks.

With a collective passion for conservation and a commitment to nurturing biodiversity, volunteers from all walks of life came together to sow wildflower seeds, adding a burst of colour to our local landscape.

As we celebrate NSW Women's Week, we recognise the pivotal role that women play in shaping the landscape and our enviroment. Their passion, resilience, and dedication serve as an inspiration for us all. Together, we sow the seeds of change, cultivating a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.

So, here's to the women of Yass Landcare Group and beyond, whose tireless efforts continue to enrich our lives and our environment. Your commitment and compassion remind us that the true essence of community lies in the bonds we forge and the seeds of hope we plant together.

This week members of Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups (YAN) welcoming Minister Tara Moriarty and the Landcare NSW Board at the Murrumbateman Landcare Community nursery to discuss what our Landcare groups are doing and show the work of our volunteers in the nursery and the Climate Ready Revegetation project.

The Volunteer Landcare NSW Board hail from all across NSW and this visit gave them an opportunity to see first-hand what our volunteer run nurseries are achieving. They heard about our structures, processes and challenges in running the nurseries and some of the fantastic project work and outcomes we are achieving now, and what we are planning in the future.  

We were pleased to hear of the NSW Governments commitment of $8.2 million towards the NSW Landcare Enabling Program. As one of the many groups across NSW that will benefit from the shared services that this funding will enable we look forward to continuing our work in protecting and enhancing biodiverse, productive and climate ready landscapes across the Yass Valley District.

The $8.2 million allocation is aimed at bolstering Landcare NSW operations and support structures. This funding will be utilised in various strategic initiatives, including the employment of up to 7.5 full-time equivalent staff to offer centralised assistance to host organisations such as YAN and coordinators funded through the Program. Additionally, a Shared Services Hub will be established to provide comprehensive support in administration and human resources to these entities. Landcare NSW will spearhead the implementation and management of a state Community of Practice, facilitating gatherings, conferences, and regional events to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange. Plus, a Digital Landcare solution is on the horizon, aiming to streamline reporting processes and enhance knowledge sharing among program participants. The initiative will focus on developing and maintaining strategic partnerships to bolster Landcare's self-sustainability and lessen reliance on direct NSW Government funding in the medium to long term.

The Minister left with half a dozen plants grown from our Climate Ready Revegetation project seed by our nursery volunteers for her own garden. These plants should feel right at home in Queanbeyan and we look forward to hearing of the progress of these seedlings.