In 2026, the Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups (YAN) proudly marks 30 years of community-led care for our local landscapes. Since our beginnings in 1996, YAN has grown from a small group of passionate locals into a strong, connected network of Landcare groups working across the Yass Valley and surrounding districts.
This milestone is an opportunity to reflect on where we started, how we’ve grown, and, most importantly, to thank the volunteers and partners who have shaped YAN over three decades.
Our Beginnings: 1996
YAN was formed in 1996 by local landholders and community members who shared a simple but powerful idea: working together achieves more for the land than working alone. At a time when issues such as land degradation, declining biodiversity and soil health were becoming increasingly visible, the network provided a way to share knowledge, coordinate action and support emerging Landcare groups across the district. From the outset, YAN focused on collaboration, connecting people, properties and projects across boundaries, and giving local Landcare groups a collective voice.
A Growing Network of Landcare Groups
Over time, the network expanded as local communities came together around shared environmental goals. Each group brings its own character, priorities and strengths, while contributing to a united regional effort.
- Murrumbateman Landcare Group joined the network as one of the region’s most active groups, supporting landholders through revegetation, sustainable agriculture and biodiversity projects in a rapidly changing peri-urban landscape.
- Yass Landcare Group strengthened the network’s presence in and around the township of Yass, with a strong focus on community education, urban and rural connections, and stewardship of local waterways and reserves.
- Bowning–Bookham Landcare Group brought together landholders across a diverse rural landscape, championing soil health, habitat restoration, Landcare on farms and practical, on-ground action.
- Sutton Landcare Group added a strong peri-urban perspective, working with landholders experiencing growth pressures while maintaining a focus on native vegetation, wildlife and sustainable land management.
- Friends of Yass Gorge joined the network with a dedicated commitment to protecting and restoring one of the region’s most visable natural assets, advocating for the Gorge’s ecological and cultural values.
Together, these groups form the heart of YAN, locally driven, volunteer-led and deeply connected to place.
Working at Scale: Regional Projects
One of YAN’s greatest strengths over the past 30 years has been the ability to deliver large, collaborative projects that no single group could achieve alone.
The Yass Habitat Linkages project demonstrated the power of landscape-scale thinking, connecting remnant vegetation across properties to improve wildlife movement and ecosystem resilience.
More recently, Climate Ready Revegetation has built on this legacy, supporting landholders to plan and plant for a changing climate, using locally appropriate species and long-term thinking to future‑proof our landscapes.
These projects reflect YAN’s role as a connector: bringing together Landcare groups, landholders, funding bodies and technical experts to deliver lasting outcomes for biodiversity, water and soils.
Thanking Our Volunteers
At the centre of everything YAN has achieved over the past 30 years are our volunteers.
From committee members and project coordinators to landholders, students and community members who turn up to plant trees, monitor sites, attend field days or share their knowledge. Thousands of volunteer hours have gone into caring for our landscapes, strengthening our communities and inspiring the next generation of Landcarers.
YAN also acknowledges the many partners, funders and supporters who have worked alongside the network over the years, helping turn local ideas into on-ground action.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate 30 years of the Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups, we do so with pride in our past and optimism for the future. The challenges facing our landscapes continue to evolve, but the values that founded YAN in 1996 remain the same: community, collaboration and care for our landscape.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey. Here’s to the next 30 years of working together for healthy, resilient landscapes across the Yass Valley.
Share your stories
If you have any photos of stories of your involvement in Landcare over the last three decades we'd love to hear about them. Please get in touch with Sarah [email protected]
Written by Sarah McGrath, YAN Coordinator
