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

On Sunday 12 October 9 people gathered for another mini- working bee at the Sutton Village reserve. A lovely sunny morning for an enjoyable time outside. 

The group moved to the second part of the larger area of the Reserve and a lot of woody weeds were removed. We were once again impressed with the amount of work that can be done by a small group of people in one and half hours. To give you an idea: over the last 9 months we have removed 435 Sifton, 15 Cootamundra wattles, 140 escapee small grevilleas, 250 young pines, 70 briar roses, 41 hawthorns, 170 serrated tussocks, 150 St Johns wort’s, 2 cotoneasters, 1 privet, 25 thistles, 6 blackberries and six 50 L bags of litter. Aside from our own efforts, Yass Valley Council has sprayed large patches of blackberries and hundreds of serrated tussocks. 

Sutton Landcare now has its own Facebook page as well as a dedicated site on the Canberra Naturemapr 

>> NatureMapr | Sutton Reserve 

 where plants we find on the Reserve are posted. 

All the work is done with support from Crown Lands and Yass Valley Council. 

Over the next 12 months we will keep going and in addition to weed removal the environmental work may include (depending on Crown Lands collaboration and permission) removing some large pine trees that are throttling old eucalypts, healing (or cool) burns, St John’s wort removal by professionals etc. In December -January we will embark on rabbit eradication with help of Local Land Services. 

 The long-term plan is to provide information signs, create walking paths, yarning circles, improve the fencing to provide better access for the Sutton Community and have the Reserve as a proper community asset. If you would like to know more, or get involved, please contact us via [email protected]. 

Our next activity will be a twilight weed walk at the Reserve. Keep an eye on the Sutton Facebook pages for date and time. 

Written by Arnold Dekker, Suttton Landcare

Local native pea expert, Tim Hayes, led an enjoyable and informative workshop for our dedicated nursery volunteers on October 4th. Native peas are ecologically important but notoriously difficult to grow in our nurseries, so we invited Tim to share his insights.

Using small pieces of fine mesh weighted with a stone, our volunteers dipped the seed into freshly boiled water for 30 seconds, followed immediately by icy cold water for 30 seconds. Under Tim’s guidance, they then placed the seed into pots, covered it with sieved soil, and watered with a fine mist. Tim advised to keep the pots in a warm location and watered with a spray bottle several times a day. We are all eager to see the results!

Tim’s enthusiasm for native peas was infectious. He explained that they are often overlooked in favour of plants with bigger, showier flowers, but they really do deserve our attention. In his local searches for native peas, Tim even discovered a new species.

We are very grateful to Tim for generously sharing his knowledge and propagation tricks.

By Sonya Duus

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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.

On a sunny winter’s day, local landholders rolled up their sleeves and came together for a paddock tree guard making day – and the results were outstanding. In just one day, more than 250 new paddock tree guards were built, ready to head out into the landscape.

Each kit included a guard and a tree, meaning that across the Yass Valley we will soon see 250 new paddock trees taking root. These young trees are an investment in the health and resilience of our region’s farmlands and ecosystems.

Paddock trees are so much more than a splash of green in the landscape. They provide vital connectivity, creating stepping stones that allow small birds and other wildlife to safely traverse open country. They offer shelter and shade for stock and wildlife, and play a role in protecting and regenerating our soils. Importantly, they also support the aging giants still standing, ensuring we maintain this living legacy for future generations.

We’re excited to watch these trees grow and thrive, becoming the next generation of paddock trees that will enrich our landscapes for decades to come. A big thank you to everyone who joined in, lending time and energy to make this possible.

Written by Sarah McGrath, YAN Local Coordinator

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Funding from Yass Habitat Linkages project made round 6 of the paddock tree rollout possible.  The Yass Habitat Linkages project invested in direct seeding, tubestock plantings and protective fencing.  This project now includes a significant paddock tree planting across the Yass Valley region