YAN  has been contracted by NSW Department of Planning and Environment to undertake water testing on local waterways in the Yass, Bowning, Bango, and Murrumbateman regions. Sampling points on the following waterways are included in this water flow and salinity testing process, Derringullen, Bowning, Washpen, Limestone, Gallop, Derringullen, Bango, Mantons, Murrumbateman, Englands, Dicks and Hickeys Creeks.  Water testing results feed into NSW water databases.  This is an  example of our regional Landcare network working with a State Government agency to collect water flow and salinity information from our regional waterways. 

As a part of our Habitat Hops project a keen group took a short guided walk by Sue McIntyre & Alison Elivn through some areas of remnant vegetation on the Black Range Road. In a short area there was a variety of different forms of remnant vegetation including the treed areas, midstory shrubs as well as native grasses and forbs.

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Some great discussions were had around;
- What remnant vegetation is and how to enhance what you have
- Different management techniques, such as using thinning, fire, fallen timber, grazing management and adding specific plants back into an ecosystem.
- The plants that provide a winter food source for native birds and animals
- The distinction between the native love grasses and the invasive introduced Afican Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula)
- Lovely rich detail about many of our native grasses, shrubs, forbs and trees.
- Parasitic plants such as mistletoe and hemi parasitic plants like the native cherry tree

It’s always a pleasure spending time with Sue & Alison and you always head home with something new.

More information about our Habitat Hops Project and how to get involved can be found on the Habitat Hops page.

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What a fantastic day we had at the Landcare Zero Kill planting field day! Our Landcare on Farms group enjoyed seeing first hand a seeder that had been converted to plant with minimal soil disturbance, directly into existing vegetation under most conditions. The group checked out the fodder oat crop that had been sown in February and had a solid discussion on all things pasture, winter feed deficit balancing, soil health, pasture and grazing management.

What was learnt
- Vegetation and biodiversity can be maintained whilst still growing a winter fodder crop
- The potential cost savings
- An alternative which can help maintain native grasses in pastures
- the benefits of being able to plant into paddocks which still have ground cover (stands of thistles etc)
- discussions around the season and plant succession
The event was a wonderful opportunity to learn, be inspired and connect with like minded individuals.

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MORE ABOUT OUR LANDCARE ON FARMS GROUP
The Bowning Bookham Landcare group invites farmers and graziers in the district to join the Landcare on Farms group. This is an active and passionate group of farmers who is working and learning together to better their farm businesses, the properties that they run and the landscape as a whole.
The group meets regularly throughout the year with farm walks and other formal activities and training. The group aims to share ideas, help members plan and manage the upcoming season and provide peer support in decision making and problem solving.

This program is supported by South East Local Land Services though funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program

The Issue
The Yass Landcare Group has completed four years of managing their signature Paddock Tree project. Funds to purchase weld mesh for either the sheep or cattle height tree guards has come from Yass SE LLS team for the last four years. Funding was reduced in 2023 thus the Yass Landcare group will have to seek other funding if this project if it is to continue past 2023.
The solution.

Jeremy Wilson and his long term partner Kate have been the key drivers behind the Yass Paddock Tree project. Jeremy estimates mesh qualities to be ordered and negotiates with potential suppliers for the best Landcare price. Jeremy is very much hands on in the roll-out of materials for this project and has learnt over the years to use machinery rather than muscle power. A planting package is provided with each tree guard and includes a locally grown climate ready Eucalyptus grown by the Yass Landcare Community Nursery volunteers.

Landholders participating in this project provide a co-contribution of $15 for each sheep height guard and $20 for each cattle height guard. The Landholder co-contributions enabled more tree guard packages to be provided under this project.

The Impact
Since 2020 which was the first year that Yass LLS funding was provided for the Yass Landcare Paddock Tree project over 1600 paddock tree guards and Eucalyptus planting packages have been planted across the Yass landscape.

Learnings
The use of machinery eg bobcat to handle heavy weldmesh rolls is vital
Using angle grinders to cut individual tree guards on moist, green paddock grass is recommended.