Supporting the recovery of our creek bank vegetation

Photo by Tweed Landcare's Gary Bagnall

The recent flood event has certainly left a trail of destruction in its wake and has been traumatic for many. Many mechanisms to support recovery are being circulated widely. One area of loss that has not yet achieved due attention is the impact to so many riparian restoration projects. For some, this has set years of hard work and determination back to square one with young plants being washed out along with, in some cases, entire sections of the river bank. In their current newsletter Richmond Landcare Inc. have published some great suggestions of how to assist recovery of damage riparian plantings 

• Wait for water to recede and soils to drain - you don't want to do further root or soil damage by sloshing about on an unstable bank (or risk your own neck)
• Remove any large debris holding down trees, caught in branches, or collected around stems. Keep as much of this on your site as you can, for the flood waters will have taken your organic matter form the soil surface and this debris will help to start restoring biological functions and OM recycling
• Carefully stand up bent trees if appropriate, and consider staking or propping them up until their roots re-establish. There are several schools of thought as to whether you should stand up flattened trees. Some species will adjust to their new angle "as nature intended", and re-shoot or coppice (e.g. Sandpaper Figs). Other species may not cope so well lying down, and while the soil is soft can be carefully staked and gradually 'lifted' using slings to a more vertical angle. The ability of a flattened tree to re-adjust will largely depend on the degree of damage, soil loss and local conditions. The best approach is to 'give it a go' on your site and take note of what works for next time! 
• Trim any broken branches or snapped stems
• If possible hose off the worst of the silt to maximize photosynthesis
• Re-plant washed out lomandra root balls, and give their leaves a trim to help reduce water loss during re-establishment
• Check the site regularly for new weed incursions courtesy of the flood

Out in the field and want help to identify plant species? 

The fabulous Rainforest Key is now available as an app! This app includes the identification tools for 1140 species of rainforest plants found from Rockhampton Qld to southern Victoria. Based on the interactive digital Rainforest USB key, this app is a powerful identification system fit for your pocket and ready at all times and in all places. 

The app is available for Androids through the Google Play Store and for Apple through iOS Apple ITunes 

 Landcare in Focus - always an inpirational read! 

In case you have not already found it Landcare Australia produce a great quarterly newsletter, Landcare in Focus, which is always full of inspiring case studies, contemporary research in agricultural and environmental fields and stories on what Landcare groups are achieving across Australia. You can now subscribe for a free digital copy. 

FOLLOW THIS LINK to subscribe.
Or enter https://landcareaustralia.org.au/resources/publications/landcare-in-focus/#signup into your browser

Landcare NSW is launching an Honour Roll 

Many of our Landcarers achieve great things in their community. Landcare NSW is establishing an Honour Roll to acknowledge the achievements of Landcarers who have recieved awards for their service to the environment and their communities. This Honor roll will celebrate prople who have received local, state or national awards in the past.

If you have received such an award or know someone who has please FOLLOW THIS LINK to the NSW Landcare website and follow the prompts to enter the information and see these people acknowledged and their works promoted. 

Landcare NSW its opening the doors on a regional office in Ballina 

Cassie Price, Operations Manager for Landcare NSW will be opening a small office in Ballina 4/48 Tamar Street next week. Within her role within Landcare NSW, Cassie is focused on Landcare issues and actions at a state-wide level. However, she is super keen see this new office available to support all levels of Landcare locally. So should your Landcare group need a desk space, a meeting place or a storage area in Ballina please let her know and she will do her best to accommodate you in the new office. Should you have inquiries regarding Landcare at a local level these are still best directed to your local Landcare Coordinators who represent the local Landcare Networks.

CLICK HERE to see Landcare NSW's great visual map displaying how Landcare fits together from the local groups through the the State and National Landcare organiations. 

If you are in Ballina, stop in for a cuppa and meet Cassie and Jodie Landcare NSW's Administration and Communications Officer. Cassie can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.