The landscapes of the Coolamon area have been extensively cleared and modified over the last 200 years for urban and agricultural needs. This is the time it takes to create homes (hollows) for medium-sized animals like parrots. New South Wales counts at least 46 mammals, 81 birds, 31 reptiles and 16 frogs that rely on…
The last Friday in July each year is dedicated to National Schools Tree Day. This year, Hay Public School helped Hay Shire Council and Murrumbidgee Landcare celebrate, learning about the importance of trees in their environment. National School’s Tree Day is a great way to inspire students to learn about the local environment while playing…
When the general community think about threatened species, the ones that come to mind are often the species overseas such as the Panda, Gorilla or Rhinoceros. Not a lot of people think about the locally native bird species that are doing it tough. But there are many locally native threatened species in the Riverina, including…
Fire has shaped the character of Australian landscapes for millions of years. Many plant and animal species have evolved strategies for coping with fire. Southern NSW has a long and varied fire intensity history. Some landholders use fire as a management tool, while others are concerned about the impact of fire on their properties, given…
Landholders in the West Wyalong area have long lacked accessible and user-friendly information on native plant identification for their area. This knowledge gap hindered effective land management and conservation efforts. The development of a native plant ID booklet provided many benefits, including: Enhancing native plant identification skills. The booklet serves as a practical tool to…
Time in nature can provide many benefits to young people, and can positively influence their mental health. However adolescents typically spend far less time in nature than either younger children or adults. Our new project aims to create a safe space where small groups of adolescents can spend time in nature to connect with the…
By the end of the school holidays, many parents are struggling for ideas to entertain their kids, and desperate for simple solutions which can get the kids out of the house – and off their screens! At the same time, many Landcare groups are grappling to attract new members, especially from the younger generation. Could…
Despite the increasing evolution of women’s roles in agriculture, they remain significantly underrepresented and undervalued in positions of rural leadership and decision making. An unconscious bias exists in the industry, perpetuated by the overwhelming majority of images depicting male farmers in a simple Google search for ‘Australian farmer.’ Women’s contributions to agriculture have a deep…
People who remove old hollow bearing trees for town development and farmland endeavours may have very little concept of who might live there. Wildlife tenants may not be there at the time, but these trees are still home for native animals, some of them being migratory. There are approximately 300 native species of birds, mammals,…
Understanding soils can be a challenging topic, and when combined with farming practices, changing weather patterns, and an expanding array of soil products, it can become even more complex. As a result, land managers often face numerous obstacles when it comes to comprehending their soils and making informed decisions about how best to manage them.…