YAN’s Climate Ready Revegetation team is thrilled to share our very first project newsletter! 

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported the project over the past year. Whether you're a volunteer, funder, advisor, partner, seed supplier, regional land manager, or Landcare friend, your contributions and collaboration are deeply appreciated.

If you'd like to follow up on anything or explore new opportunities to get involved, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’d love to hear from you!

[email protected]

The Climate Ready Revegetation Project has been assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust. Landcare Australia Michael King grants enable us to purchase seed from diverse provenances.

In 2024, Judy and Graeme Fountain made the difficult decision to hang up their gardening gloves after eight years of dedicated nursery management on their farm north of Yass.

As cherished members of YAN’s nursery network, they made an immense contribution by cultivating tens of thousands of vibrant native plants. These plants have enriched local revegetation efforts and left a lasting legacy on the landscape.

In addition to growing Climate Ready tubestock, Judy and Graeme propagated 4,000 native plants to help regenerate a Bemboka farm after the devastating 2019 fires. They have also grown a wide variety of Koala habitat trees and participated in other vital projects.

We take our hats off to their incredible efforts!

The Murrumbateman Village Reserve came alive with the spirit of connection and learning during the Murrumbateman Landcare Native Plant Use, Traditional Tools, and Indigenous Culture Workshop. Hosted in the beautiful grassy woodlands of the reserve, the event featured Aaron Chatfield from Dreamtime Connections, a Gamilaroi man deeply connected to Ngunnawal people and Country.

Aaron’s passion and vast knowledge captivated participants as he led a walk through the reserve highlighting the native plants and wildlife, offering fascinating insights and practical demonstrations. From showcasing traditional tools like boomerangs, bull roarers, emu callers, and digging sticks to sharing the flavours of bush tea, wattleseed biscuits, and native tomato with pepper, the workshop was a feast for the senses and the mind.

It was fascinating to discover so many different facts, including how red-headed meat ant nests can signal seasonal changes, how blackwood wattle leaves make an excellent natural soap, and how cassinia shrub leaves can be used as a band-aid.

The event brought together a diverse group of participants, including local and visiting Ngunawal community members, Murrumbateman locals, and members of Murrumbateman Landcare. It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate and learn from the rich cultural heritage of the First Nations people while deepening our connection to the local landscape.

Murrumbateman Landcare is excited to continue working closely with the Ngunawal community to manage and care for the Murrumbateman Village Reserve, ensuring this beautiful place thrives for generations to come.

Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to making this day so special. We look forward to hosting more events that celebrate the wisdom of Indigenous culture and the wonders of our natural environment.

Stay tuned for updates on future workshops and activities with Murrumbateman Landcare and the Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups.

Written by Jacqui Stol, Murrumbateman Landcare

As summer approaches, it’s natural to wonder how hot it might get this year—and how much hotter future summers could be as the climate changes. Questions about how native plantings, livestock, and crops will cope are becoming increasingly urgent.

My Climate View is an invaluable online tool that allows us to explore past climate data and future projections with remarkable detail—down to approximately 5x5 km. It offers insights into a range of variables related to temperature, rainfall, and potential evapotranspiration.

For example, a search for “Yass” reveals that under a high-emissions scenario, the average maximum temperature is projected to rise by about 3℃ by the 2070s. This adds to the warming already observed over the past 60 years. We can also expect more hot days (≥35℃) and shifts in rainfall seasonality. With just a click, the tool shows how curtailing global emissions to a ‘medium’ rather than ‘high’ scenario could shape outcomes in our local area.

Developed by the CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology, My Climate View equips land managers with the information they need to adapt their practices to a changing climate. It provides tailored data relevant to a wide range of agricultural sectors.

We highly recommend this tool based on first-hand experience; YAN’s Climate Ready Revegetation Project team uses projections from My Climate View to evaluate which native species are most likely to survive under future conditions.

Written by Sonya Duus, Climate Ready Revegetation Project Officer

You may also like to read . . . 

>> Climate Ready Reveegetation Team: Preparing for a Changing Future

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The Climate Ready Revegetation Project has been assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust. Landcare Australia Michael King grants enable us to purchase seed from diverse provenances.