‘Re-greening Country’ and ‘Saving our Species’ planting at Moorlands

A female Superb Parrot in her nesting hollow. Credit Dave Curtis, Flickr.

The definition of travelling with purpose? Sign up for a weekend al fresco, planting Superb Parrot habitat at Moorlands Biodynamic Farm (3.5 hours from Sydney, 1.5 hours from Canberra).

Over the past 20 years, 6th-generation sheep grazier Vince Heffernan has planted 60,000+ native trees and shrubs at his 1,200-hectare property ‘Moorlands’ on the Lachlan River, offering habitat to a range of species including the Superb Parrot. But there’s more to be done!

This August, September and October, Vince is calling for volunteers to help plant 6,000 parrot-friendly native trees and shrubs, supplied by Greening Australia and Rotary Adopt a Tree. The tubestock will include eucalypts, acacia, callistemon and many other local native species.

A big job but very rewarding, and a rare chance to spend some time working alongside Vince, a legend of the Australian regenerative agriculture movement.

Available weekends are:

• 12-13 August – register on Eventbrite
• 26-27 August – register on Eventbrite
• 9-10 September – register on Eventbrite
• 18-22 September (for volunteers who wish to continue planting during the week) – register on Eventbrite
• 23-24 September – register on Eventbrite
• 30 September & 1 October – register on Eventbrite
• 14-15 October – register on Eventbrite
• 28-29 October – register on Eventbrite

Please note, a number of planting dates have been made available in August, September and October, to help keen volunteers to fit it into their schedule! The schedule is flexible, e.g. if family groups wish to come during the school holidays.

What’s involved:

The soil is prepared ahead of time by Vince, so digging with minimal effort is required. Volunteers will be assigned specific tasks. These can be rotated to avoid fatigue:

• Making tree guards and preparing natural fibre weed mats
• Digging holes for tubestock (5 meters apart)
• Laying out tubestock, tree guards, weed mats
• Planting tubestock, fixing tree guard and weed mat in place
• Watering

Accommodation:

Volunteers are welcome to camp at the farm. Facilities available include shearer’s kitchen, hot showers, camping, power to charge phones etc., potable drinking water. Meals are self-catering.

Those who aren’t keen to camp can find accommodation in nearby towns (Crookwell, Gunning, Yass).

We need your help to plant essential habitat for threatened species like the Superb Parrot. Volunteer now for a bucolic frolic at Vince’s place! 

This planting, part of Greening Australia’s project with the NSW Government’s Saving our Species program, also ties into the work of thousands of landholders and partners to create Australia’s biggest carbon sink and establish one million hectares of habitat across southern Australia. Talk about impact!

Enquiries:

Call or text Adrian Polhill, Vice President at Oatley Flora and Fauna Conservation Society on 0424 478 498 or send Adrian an email.