releaf winter 2010

Trees For LifeWinter 2010Number 115

Special plant sale for our members

Landholders: time to place your orders

Open days planned for bush sites

Carbon Neutral plantings take off

2 Trees For Life Winter 2010 Number 115

President’s Message General News

Contact usReLeaf is a production of Trees For Life. Editorial/Advertising: Tania Kearney (ph: 8406 0500 or [email protected]) Production/Graphic Design: Fusion Printing: Finsbury Green

Want to advertise? Advertising space is now available in ReLeaf. Phone 8406 0500 or email [email protected] for advertising rates.

Cover photo: Spring Gully Creek at Clare by Matt Endacott.

Trees For Life 5 May Tce

Brooklyn Park 5032 Ph: 8406 0500 Fax: 8406 0599

[email protected] www.treesforlife.org.au

Green ReLeaf

ReLeaf’s format is made possible through the

generous sponsorship of Fusion and Finsbury Green Printing.

ReLeaf is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper and printed with 100% vegetable-based inks, ensuring the ‘greenest’ possible publication. The sponsorship has also enabled major savings in printing costs and postage, enabling the product to be designed at no extra cost.

TFL powered by the sun

There are smiles all ‘round at the TFL offices on May

Terrace since our sponsor Green Switch installed 12 solar panels on the north facing roof of our old church.

The panels will generate electricity to sell back into the grid and contribute to South Australia’s energy sustainability.

As a community organisation we could never have afforded this initiative on our own. As an environmental organisation it is something we have always dreamed of.

So thank you to Rob Superina and the team at Green Switch for helping us help the environment. Members should note that the Green Switch offer of a free 5000 litre rainwater tank with any 1kW or higher PV System purchased will remain in place until July 1. For more information phone 1300 326 794.

To share our glee, we will be tracking our electricity and reporting it quarterly in a graph in ReLeaf from the September issue.

Call for Board nominations

If you’d like to increase your involvement with Trees For

Life, then you might like to consider nominating for a position on the Board.

Positions up for re-election are Vice-President, Treasurer and two Ordinary Board positions.

A TFL Board nomination form appears on Page 14 of this ReLeaf edition. Simply fill in the details and send it back to us here at TFL.

Groups fight for environment despite ‘too hard basket’ tag

Wasn’t global warming the greatest moral challenge of our time or was I just dreaming? Last year the media was full of

impending doom brought about by climate change; hundreds made the pilgrimage to Copenhagen (mainly at taxpayers’ expense) and there was endless debate about the much-vaunted but poorly conceived emissions trading scheme. Now it’s all about health and hospitals, the sorry state of the Crows and salary cap scandals.

Since I find myself at that stage of life where my body ‘ain’t what it used to be’ and increasingly requires specialist care and attention, I’m not about to knock anything that improves the health system. Furthermore, being a round ball aficionado I’m not overly fussed about the fate of Neil Craig’s boys or some overpaid rugby players.

But where, I ask, has the focus on the environment, carbon emissions and conservation gone? I can only conclude that it’s simply too hard for our leaders and that eventually the climate change sceptics and nay-sayers (such as Andrew Bolt and others of similar ilk) have won the day. It even cost the surprisingly principled Malcolm Turnbull his job.

Of course it has rained and there is even the possibility of a reprieve for the Murray, albeit a limited one. Oh, and there is to be an independent Murray-Darling Commission while closer to home we’ll soon have the desalination plant operating at Lonsdale. She’ll be right mate.

Unfortunately I don’t think it will. Not unless we do a whole lot more and even then there’ll be setbacks. I’m writing this hard on the heels of the Icelandic volcanic ash phenomenon that disrupted flights in Europe with consequent global reverberations. Mother Nature from time to time reminds us that whatever we do or however clever we are we’ll never be able to totally control her powers. But surely that’s not an excuse for abandoning serious action on climate change which last year was a top priority at international, national and local levels and now barely rates a mention.

Clearly it’s too important an issue to be left to governments. There’s lots of talk nowadays about community engagement and some have even talked of ‘democratising the environment’. I contend that’s what Trees For Life has been doing for almost 30 years now. Our visionary Tree Scheme linked volunteer growers living mainly in the city with country landholders thereby starting the process of revegetation that has grown into a true South Aussie success story. The Direct Seeding program extended the relationship to tackle land degradation on a broad acre scale. While Bush For Life (or Bushcare until the Feds filched the name) sees trained community volunteers caring for remnant vegetation in accord with principles that form the basis of natural resources management (NRM). While others talk, TFL (and some other community groups) walk the walk in the hope that it’s not too late to literally save the planet. Actions speak louder than words.

Next year Trees For Life will be 30 and it will truly be time to celebrate. It’s not been an easy journey and I’m still in awe of our early pioneers who had not just the vision but the tenacity to get things started. While others play political games, conduct semantic exercises and generally skirt around the problems, community groups roll up their collective sleeves and set about fixing the problems. So, thanks again to all you members, volunteers and supporters. You are the true believers. Without you the environment would be immeasurably the poorer but with you we still have a fighting chance of salvaging something worthwhile from what has become a dreadful mess.

By DAVID MITCHELL, TFL President

3Trees For Life Winter 2010 Number 115

Exciting new Trees For Life Charitable Trust

Working with the Public Trustee’s Community

Foundation of SA (CFSA), Trees For Life has established a Trust Fund which provides an easy option for people to donate funds to support the work of Trees For Life in perpetuity. This can be done as a part of a person’s Will or at any stage during their lifetime.

The CFSA provides a competitive rate of return on funds that are invested and the income from the investments is used to support our conservation work.

Who can donate?Anyone can! Individuals,

corporations, businesses, organisations, groups, workers through Workplace Giving or other foundations can now use the Trust to support Trees For Life.

How to donate Cash donations can be made • at any time by contacting the Public Trustee; Donor forms are available from the Public Trustee Office. Regular donations via • your credit card. You can make a bequest in • your Will - consult the Public Trustee or your legal adviser.Workplace giving.• You can assign shares, • debentures or other investments. You can donate real estate, • negotiable instruments of any kind, art works and collectibles.The CFSA was launched

by the Attorney General in January 2001. It was established by a group of people who approached Public Trustee to explore the option of developing a foundation that provided support to charitable organisations.

Managed by Public Trustee of SA, with the assistance of a voluntary Advisory Board, all donations are directed and used appropriately and in accordance with the wishes of the donor. Public Trustee provides administrative and marketing support at no cost to the Foundation as part of its community service commitment. This ensures that each donation really counts.

For more information please visit the Community Foundation website: http://www.communityfoundationsa.org.au

Public Trustee is also able to provide advice on Wills, Enduring Power of Attorney, Enduring Power of Guardianship as well as providing taxation and investment services.

For a number of years it has provided a free Will making service to clients who appoint Public Trustee as their Executor. A commission is then charged against the estate when it is administered. If you appoint Public Trustee as your Executor any bequest made under the Will to the Trees For Life Community Foundation Trust Fund will be exempted from the commission charge.

Following a recent change to policy Public Trustee is now also preparing Wills for clients who wish to appoint a family member, a friend or another party as their Executor. The current fees for preparing such Wills are $345 per couple and $215 for a single. As a special offer to Trees For Life members Public Trustee is prepared to discount these fees to $240 (couple) and $150 (single), a saving of approximately 30%.

For more information on this special offer, the Community Foundation of SA or any of Public Trustee’s products and services please contact Graham Stagg at Public Trustee on 8227 2074.

High hopes for schools project

If you drive past Adelaide High School one day soon, look

closely at the rooftop. You might just see around 600 miniature tree tops reaching up to the sky.

Adelaide High’s ‘Environment Club’ is growing this small forest as part of Trees For Life’s inaugural schools project.

The pilot project, developed with funding from the Coopers Foundation, started in February and involves 65 students in three different schools: 30 primary students from Lockleys Primary School (R–7), and 35 secondary students (aged 13–17 years) from Adelaide High School and Warriapendi Indigenous school.

Working with a small group at each school, students are receiving specialised TFL training regarding the fundamentals of propagation and revegetation.

TFL Volunteer Grower Coordinator Jennie Howe has conducted autumn propagation workshops in each school, with students preparing tubes and seed to propagate native plants for revegetating their local area.

During regular site visits, Jennie is teaching students about transplanting, thinning and grading techniques – all important aspects of volunteer growing.

“We have designed the overall project to run between February and October, with TFL making several visits to each school to present propagation workshops, conduct follow up visits and provide ongoing support for each step of the process from seed to seedling. We’ll also facilitate each school to plant out their seedlings around their school grounds or local parkland,” Jennie said.

As well as learning about habitat and biodiversity principles, Jennie said it was important that students understood they could do something practical for their local environment and gained respect for the unique qualities of our own flora and fauna.

Trees For Life hopes the schools’ pilot project will be on-going and can expand to educate more students in coming years. If you want to register interest in your school being part of the project in the next year or two, phone Jennie on 8406 0500.

(And incidentally, Adelaide High’s rooftop seedlings will soon be planted out around their oval, to provide much-needed shade for local cricketers.)

It’s National Tree Day!

Don’t forget that National Tree Day is being held on

Sunday, August 1.And this year, together with

Schools Tree Day on Friday, July 30, the aim is to plant one million native trees and shrubs throughout Australia.

If you’d like to volunteer to plant trees at a site in SA, or want to register a tree day planting site, log onto Planet Ark’s National Tree Day website: http://treeday.planetark.org or phone the hotline on 1300 88 5000

If your school is, or wants to be involved in a tree day activity, there are some great new school resources and information kits on the Planet Ark website, as well as games, activities and colouring-in sheets.

Adelaide High School students.

Warriapendi School students.


General News

Special plant sale for our members

Trees For Life will hold its inaugural members only

Native Plant Carpark Sale on June 18.

An estimated 2750 seedlings covering 20 species suitable for suburban gardens will be available at $2 per seedling.

Species will include: Ficinia nodosa (Knobby club-rush), Hardenbergia violacea (Native lilac), Kennedia prostrata (Running postie), Dianella brevicaulis (Short-stem flax lily), Banksia marginata (Silver banksia), Clematis microphylla (Old man’s beard) and Einadia nutans (Climbing saltbush), plus many more.

Members can visit and purchase plants anytime between 2-6pm on Friday, June 18 at the rear of the May Terrace office, in the carpark, naturally!

Please park your vehicles in May Terrace and walk through to the rear of the building. Bring a carry bag or box to transport your plants safely home. This is a great chance to see our new offices if you haven’t done so yet. As this is a new initiative we have no idea what the volume of interest will be. It will be a case of, first in, first served so we apologise in advance if we sell out before you arrive.

If you would like more information, please phone us on 8406 0500.

Challenge set for KI planting festival

Trees For Life has its own volunteer planting team, but

if you’re interested in helping out the Department of Environment & Heritage’s biodiversity team, they are coordinating a planting festival on Kangaroo Island on July 2–4.

The ultimate aim is to reinstate 100ha of threatened plant habitat in the highly cleared lower Cygnet Valley on KI.

This year’s goal is to plant a minimum of 80,000 plants and distribute 40kg of seed over 40ha during the festival weekend.

Around 150 volunteers are being asked to help with the planting so if you’re interested in taking up the worthwhile challenge, phone David Taylor on 8553 4428 or email [email protected]

2011 calendar call for entries

In case you’ve missed the theme, our 2011 calendar will

recognise the environmental contribution of our members.

We are seeking photos which capture the impact individual members have had through participation in our programs.

Subjects could include successful revegetation created through TFL seedlings or direct seeding, bushland which has been saved from weed infestation, plants, flowers, insects or animals which have found a home in revegetated patches or returned to rehabilitated bush.

Photos should reflect a direct link back to the work our members have done.

Photographs must be a minimum of 300dpi and in landscape format. Reduced versions can be initially emailed to [email protected]

Entries close July 31, 2010.

Melaleuca decussata (totem poles)

Vittadinia (new-Holland daisy)

Clematis microphylla (old mans beard)

Olearia ramulosa (twiggy daisy bush)

Einadia nutans (climbing saltbush)

Dianella brevicaulis (short-stem flax lily)

Hardenbergia violacea (native lilac)

Kennedia prostrata (running postie)

Banksia marginata (silver banksia)

Ficinia nodosa (knobby club-rush)

Leptospermum continentale (prickly tea-tree)

Hakea rostrata (beaked hakea)


Port Elliot property a labour of loveBy TANIA KEARNEY

Australians are gradually coming around to the fact

that having a local native garden doesn’t mean having to sacrifice beauty, class and style.

A perfect example of this has been set by Port Elliot couple and Trees For Life members, Judy and Andrew Baghurst, whose garden recently won the State Government’s Native Gardens Award for Best Home Garden.

Judy and Andrew joined TFL in 1992 when they were living in Eden Hills. The couple had a small property of about four acres and during 1994-97 grew thousands of native seedlings to create their own patch of paradise, being “blown away by the success” of their plantings.

In 1997 they took a big leap and bought a 53-acre hilltop property overlooking Port Elliot, relocating to their new home four years later.

“The region belonged to Hans Heysen’s brother and it was heavily grazed by cattle, so when we first moved here, the property’s native vegetation consisted of one gum tree and four sheoaks. The rest of the property was covered in box thorns and olives,” Judy said.

With a burning desire to create a native garden landscape surrounding their new home, plenty of hard work followed.

Olives and other woody weeds were tackled with help from Creation Care’s Greg Dalton, and advice on native plants and landscape design was sought from Alan Fisher of Gardens Australis and native plant expert, Brenton Tucker.

“I had a vision in my mind as to how I wanted the garden to look and that vision mainly focused on colours and textures that I thought would look ideal,” Judy said.

After trucking in 28 loads of mulch and 210 tonnes of

gypsum, the planting began with many sourced from native plant nurseries, grown from cuttings and, of course, from TFL seed.

“The first year was an enormous learning curve. Apart from rabbits and kangaroos, we had to deal with powerful south-westerly and north-westerly winds which pruned all the plants – it literally cut through everything.

“I soon realised what I wanted in the garden and what would actually survive would be quite different. I had had some success with plants such as silver cushion bush, grevilleas and Dianella revoluta, so I started focusing on the surviving plants and putting more of those in.”

And as proven by the Baghurst’s recent State garden award, success has obviously been achieved.

“I’m now at the stage where I’m filling in parts of the ground, working largely on understorey plantings and pasture grasses.

“I’m working an average of three hours a day in the garden but sometimes I do put in a good 6-7 hours work. These days it mostly consists of weeding and mulch spreading and every now and then digging more holes or making stone paths.”

Judy estimates the survival rate of her native plants is around the 95% mark, despite the drought conditions and other outside influences. With no mains water, the plants survive on natural rainfall and water from a 33,000 litre rainwater tank, making it a perfect choice for the native gardens awards, which are designed to raise awareness about plants suited to harsh climates.

“At least 50% of the plants are indigenous and many flower at different times. I’ve noticed so many changes in the past few years and it just keeps changing. The garden attracts the most beautiful tiny blue butterflies and when we first came, for example, parrots were a rarity. Now there are dozens and dozens of them. We also see fairy wrens, finches, thornbills, honeyeaters, black-

faced cuckoo shrine, golden whistlers, and lizards are on the increase. We also see lots of birds of prey and up to a dozen kangaroos now call it home too.”

So what advice can Judy offer to those wanting to create their own native haven?

“If you’re on a big property and it’s quite windy and exposed, definitely put in windbreaks such as hay bales. Also find out the possible problems before you start anything. Don’t be seduced by the prettiest and most

colourful plants. Select a few special plants as highlights but ensure the reliable ones provide that basic structure. A healthy plant is so much more attractive than a half-dead one!

“But above all, persevere as it’s so wonderfully rewarding.”

Judy and Andrew Baghurst’s property in Port Elliot will be open to the public on September 12 as part of the Open Garden Scheme. The day also coincides with Sustainable Housing Day.

Judy Baghurst in her award-winning native garden, which overlooks Port Elliot.

The bare landscape Judy had to work with on moving onto their Port Elliot property, once their house was built.

And as it stands now. The growth and success of plantings has been quite remarkable.


Nursery grown plant orders now open

Trees For Life is again offering to grow bulk

orders of seedlings for the general public.

Previously, project orders were only grown for council and government revegetation projects.

Private companies, landscaping businesses, private landholders and commercial nurseries can now order quantities greater than 1000 seedlings, which our trained staff will grow at the Betty Westwood Nursery at Brooklyn Park.

The minimum order for any one species is 100 seedlings and as per the Tree Scheme ordering season, selection can be made from the appropriate TFL zone order form.

Project orders for winter sowing species close on July 1 and orders for summer grown species close on August 31, 2010. Orders are for collection and planting from May 2011.

All seedlings grown by TFL are of local provenance, meaning that seed is collected from the area in which the seedlings will be planted. We can also grow from seed that you have collected locally yourself.

For more information phone Maureen Redfern on (08) 8406 0500.

Landholders get to work

With the volunteer growers’ job now complete,

landholders will finish off the cycle by planting the tubestock on their land.

Here are a few tips to ensure you get great results:

Transport: when transporting your seedlings it is important that you carry them in a covered vehicle so that they do not suffer wind damage or dry out.

Holding: before planting, keep your seedlings up off the ground, well watered and in full sunlight. Protect them from snails, caterpillars, grasshoppers, dogs, footballs and other hazards, and keep them weeded.

Too tall? If your seedlings are too tall you can cut them back to about 15cms. They will grow bushy and be stronger than tall spindly ones.

Watering: Just before planting your seedlings, water them well.

The next step Cut the tube to remove the

seedling. Make the incision at the bottom of the tube and slit the tube right up to the top. This is the best way to remove seedlings from the soft plastic TFL tubes and results in least disturbance to the roots. Sharp blades obviously work best, but please take care and prevent cuts to hands by wearing leather gloves. Don’t give this job to very young members of the planting team. Once cut, open out the tube right out, and remove and plant the seedling in the prepared hole. Backfill with friable soil, firm down and water if possible.

When planting, try not to lose any soil from the roots but don’t discard the seedlings if this happens – just make sure to backfill soil firmly around the roots.

Join our TS depot networkBy MAUREEN REDFERN Tree Scheme Manager

Would you like to be part of the Tree Scheme

distribution system?We are looking to establish

a new depot in the Angaston, Tanunda, Nuriootpa region. Doug and Shirley Storton have been running a depot from their Angaston property for many years and the time has come for them to hand on the baton.

Can you help? Do you have a suitable site for a depot, and are you willing to run it?

The Angaston depot traditionally distributes about 250 boxes of supplies to 25-30 local members, so it is a valuable service preventing the need for people to drive to Gawler or Clare to collect their supplies.

Davoren ParkDick Welch has been

managing the Davoren Park

depot for many years and he is also looking to hand on the baton. The depot site at the former Playford Council depot is excellent for the task, and we have the ongoing support of the Playford staff, so we just need a new manager.

Managing a depot is not difficult and offers an opportunity to play a major role in the TFL distribution system.

The depot managers form a special group of volunteers who provide an invaluable service to TFL and the membership by facilitating the supply of propagation materials to members in their local area. The Tree Scheme would be impossible to deliver without the network of 50 depots throughout the State.

To those hard-working depot managers who are retiring, TFL would like to say a big thank you for your dedication, time and effort. Your help has been very much appreciated.

If you would like more details on any of the above positions, please call me on 8406 0500.

Young Josh Camens, of Unley, a first time grower with the Tree Scheme, had a very successful season and said he thoroughly enjoyed the experience.


Time to place your orders

The Trees For Life ordering season is now open, so

landholders wanting seedlings to plant in 2011 should place an order with Trees For Life before July 31.

Trees For Life’s local native seedlings are provided at well below cost thanks to our sponsor SA Water and our members. You can choose to grow your own seedlings or request that they be grown to order by a volunteer grower.

Ordering Trees For Life seedlings is as simple as 1, 2, 3

1. Ensure your financial membership is current to January 1, 2011

2. Fill in the zone order form and pay a $50 materials and supply fee

3. Receive your materials in November 2010 if you are growing your own seedlings.

Planning ahead in times of uncertain rain

We understand that it’s difficult enough under normal conditions to think about ordering seedlings 12 months in advance and the recent drought affecting most areas adds to that uncertainty. Even though 2009 was an almost average year we can’t predict whether there will be good rains again this year. Members who have placed orders over the past five years have reported reasonable success even when the rains have been patchy. Using local provenance stock as we do greatly increases the chance of success in all conditions. Maintaining a consistent and regular planting regime will ensure a successful revegetation project over the long term.

Choosing plants is made easy with a species list

The Trees For Life species list includes a height and shape classification of each plant, what soil type it is best suited to and

a description of its possible uses, including windbreak, shade, firewood or shelter.

These seedlings are not only native to South Australia, but grown from seed collected from within the Trees For Life zone into which they will be planted.

This means that they occur naturally and are adapted to local conditions, therefore having a higher survival rate. They are also water efficient, pose no risk of becoming weed species and provide homes for local fauna.

Matching growers and landholders

Each year we receive requests from landholders who would like to be matched to a particular volunteer grower.

We are happy to accommodate requests and are pleased to see successful grower/landholder relationships develop and thrive. We do ask, however, that a few guidelines are followed:

1. The nominated grower is a member of Trees For Life

2. They fill out a volunteer grower form stating that they want to grow for you

3. They are offering to grow the same number of boxes that you have ordered

Similarly, if volunteer growers want to grow for a particular landholder, the landholder needs to place an order before July 31 and you must offer to grow the same number of boxes that they have ordered.

We also ask that landholders and volunteer growers discuss the joint arrangements between themselves before putting forward their names to us. If you need to know more, for example, someone’s membership number, don’t hesitate to contact us.

We look forward to receiving your orders and assisting in your revegetation of rural South Australia.

Tree Scheme


Landholder Cherry Macklin, with TFL volunteer grower, John Lewis.

Ashbourne’s perfect, with a cherry on topBy TANIA KEARNEY

When Cherry Macklin came out to Australia from

England on a working holiday as a 22-year-old, it is unlikely even she would have foreseen that decades later, Cherry would be a shining light in terms of land conservation and revegetation.

Cherry and husband David, who was Trees For Life’s first official Treasurer, own two adjacent parcels of land in Ashbourne – their first bought 10 years ago, a 407 acre property which the Finniss River and Bull Creek pass through, and magnificent River Reds grace the river bed; the second a 120 acre pristine scrub block, Meyers scrub, bought in 2004 from the Nature Foundation.

The main property is spectacular, but when you sit down and listen to all that has been achieved since Cherry and David bought it, you realise just how much hard work has gone into getting it to that condition.

As well as David being a Trees For Life member since 1984, Cherry and David have also been working with environmental groups such as the Goolwa to Wellington Local Action Planning group and Waterwatch to achieve the best results.

Cherry said the local LAP had been “fantastic”, providing support and advice, as well as helping her get funding for fencing.

Fencing off remnant vegetation was the first priority, especially with Cherry and David also running 70 breeding Murray Greys and Angas Cross cattle, three bulls, 40 sheep and several horses on the main property.

The priority areas have been existing swampland and the river bed.

“We have fenced off two areas of swampland. They’re very important in the

Fleurieu and because of the excessive grazing that has taken place on properties over the years, there’s not many left,” Cherry said.

Hundreds of native seedlings, predominantly river reds and acacias, have been planted along the river bed.

Cherry said one of the major problems along the river bed was erosion. Swamp rats and water events had had a detrimental affect on water quality.

“The existing sedges and reeds we left to their own devices but we started planting natives such as callistemons and acacias along the banks to try to hold the soil together,” Cherry said.

“We’ve noticed a great improvement in the water quality. There’s now a lot of natural regeneration along the river and the water quality, which I test monthly for Waterwatch, is good too. We always have a lot of dragonflies, which is usually an excellent water quality indicator.”

John’s seedlingsFor the past six years, TFL

volunteer grower John Lewis, of Strathalbyn, has grown 10 boxes of seedlings each year for the Macklins. Another 10 is grown by the Goolwa-Wellington LAP group. And with an average 26 inches of rain each year, the success rate of the seedlings has been high – a pleasing factor for John, who recently visited the property to see their growth.

While the revegetation efforts on the main property are going strong, the Meyers scrub block is a perfect example of Australia’s original bushland. Thankfully, the block has been placed under a Heritage Agreement.

The bushland contains few invasive species, with the main problem weed being Pentaschistis. The block is also a Bush For Life site and although little work is needed, keeping it in such a good condition is extremely important.

As well as the revegetation and conservation efforts on

both properties, they are also home to a variety of Australian native animals.

On the outskirts of the scrub block, a large cage has been established with help from Fauna Rescue, for the release of Brushtail and Ringtail possums.

Animal sanctuaryOn the main property, a three

acre area has been fenced off and is home to former Warrawong Sanctuary animals such as potoroos, bettongs, tammars and bandicoots.

You could easily describe the area as Cherry’s haven as well. She often works long days on the main property, undertaking most of the manual work herself, such as the fencing.

“I love it and I like spending the hours here because the rewards are so high. I get a lot of support from others and together we’ve been able to see some real improvements.

“We still have a lot to do but when you start seeing the natural regeneration, it makes you quite proud and very optimistic for the future.”

Bush For Life is looking for bushcarers to help on the Meyers scrub block. If you would like to be a volunteer on the site, please phone 8406 0500.

Bush For Life

One of the fenced-off swampland areas on the Macklin property.


Bush Action Teams power ahead By MARK ELLIS Bush For Life Manager

Good news for Bush Action Teams (BATs). The Native

Vegetation Council was one of the main funders of the BAT program this year and they have recently confirmed this is set to continue next year with a new, substantial injection of funds through its Significant Environmental Benefit grants program.

By supporting the BAT program the Native Vegetation Council will ensure that high quality bush regeneration works will be carried out by volunteers under the careful guidance of our coordinators on a range of established Bush For Life sites across SA.

Next year’s BAT program will again concentrate on providing an additional helping hand to our regular site volunteers where weed issues are too big for them to handle.

Landholders and councils participating in the program are invited to commission an additional BAT visit on one of their sites (landholders please speak to us about the opportunities).

Summer programThis year for the first time

we offered a limited ‘Summer BAT’ program. The months of January to March are often too hot for regular group activities in the field so we usually go into recess to give our volunteers a break. However some keen volunteers were missing their regular activities and asked us to coordinate some. Each week, after checking to make sure the weather forecast was suitable for outdoor work, a list of volunteers who had expressed interest were contacted and a BAT organised to a suitable site. Often we picked sites in the hills or southern zones where temperatures were a bit milder.

There is still plenty of work

to be done in the warm, dry summer months on many sites so the extra work the volunteers contributed was much appreciated by the bush.

More extended BATsAlthough the extended BAT

to the Yorke Peninsula in June is already fully booked, we are planning at least two more later in August and September to the mid north and lower Murray or Fleurieu areas. So stay tuned for the spring Bush Action Team program and get in quick as places fill fast for these popular events.

Open days for prospective bushcarers

Bush For Life is holding two open days during winter to

promote the benefits of bushcare volunteering.

Our bushcarers contribute hundreds of hours of work each year, improving the condition of remnant vegetation throughout the Mt Lofty Ranges and Adelaide plains, and even further afield. But we still have many sites in need of some extra TLC.

If you have ever considered becoming a bushcarer and would like a sneak peak into how it operates, the open days are a perfect opportunity.

The first will be held at RB Connolly Reserve on LeFevre Peninsula on Sunday, June 20 between 10am-1pm. This reserve protects one of the last remnants of coastal shrubland on the LeFevre Peninsula and is home to a variety of interesting plants and animals. Among the wattles and hop-bushes is a diverse collection of native grasses, lilies, saltbushes and daisies which form the habitat of a number of lizard species

including bearded dragons, skinks and shingle-backs, as well as an array of insects, spiders and other invertebrates. The bushes and trees attract a range of honeyeaters and parrots and many other birds to feed on the abundant nectar, seeds and insect life.

If a peaceful creek surrounded by native bush is more your scenery, join us at Abercrombie Reserve at St Agnes on Saturday July 24, between 10am-1pm. This reserve, off Tolley Road, is part of a network of flora and fauna reserves throughout the City of Tea Tree Gully that play a critical role in conserving the biodiversity of the area. As part of the activities for the open day, the site’s carers will be planting some native grasses grown from seed collected in the reserve, to supplement the natural regeneration.

During the open days tours of the sites will run every half hour from 10.15am, during which visitors will be shown interesting native plants, learn to identify common weeds and find out about the principles of minimal disturbance bush regeneration. For more information phone 8406 0500.

The RB Connolly Reserve will host an open day on June 20. The site is home to many wonderful plant species including Pelargonium australe, bottom right.

Bush Action Teams are groups of 10–12 trained volunteers and supervisors visiting a Bush For Life site for a full day’s bush regeneration. Those wanting to join a BAT must first participate in a BFL introductory workshop.


Carbon Neutral- Direct Seeding sites

Carbon Neutral sites growing slowly but surelyThis season will be our fourth season of sowing for our Carbon Neutral program.

As with all direct seeded sites progress over the first five years is slow but sure and it is exciting to see some of the earlier sites starting to show some height, having established good root systems over their first few years.

In this special feature, we take a look at the progress being made on some of our sites.

Group funds Birdwood site

One of the first sites planted is at Birdwood.

The planting of this small site was fully funded by a group of TFL members going under the name of the Scunthorpe Forest Collective.

This wonderful group of friends has also fully funded a second site and will complete funding of a third this year

Flaxley site a shining success

Our large Flaxley site has been planted with a

combination of hand and machine direct seeding plus interspersed tubestock. The species associations on site are dominated by Eucalyptus obliqua (Messmate stringy bark) woodland.

Many businesses and individuals have helped fund this planting over three seasons including Elderton Winery,

Brown Falconer, Kearney Financial Services, Royal Automobile Association, Motor Accident Commission, Adelaide Convention Centre, ‘Go For Green’ program, Abbott Printers & Stationers, Shearer + Elliss Chartered Accountants, Satisfac Credit Union, South Australian Wine Industry Environmental Conference 2009, Whyalla Veterinary Clinic, Adventure Bay Charters, South Australian Tourism Industry Council, Finsbury Green Printing, Melrose Primary School and our very own Alison Platt.

– quite an inspirational group of shrinking violets!

The Birdwood site is directly adjacent the Cromer Conservation Park, and the local provenance, multi-storey revegetation will link the remnant vegetation of the park, with remnants on the property, providing increased natural habitat and corridors for the local wildlife.

The photo above, taken in September 2009, shows such excellent germination that some thinning will be required.

Some thining out on this Birdwood site will be required due to germination success.

Flaxley’s 20ha of revegetation is expected to sequester 4167 tonnes of CO2 in 100 years.

Birdwood’s 3ha revegetation site is expected to sequester 672 tonnes of CO2 over 100 years.

This photo taken on the Flaxley site in February 2010 shows the pioneer species, Acacia pycnantha paving the way for the slower growing species.


Carbon Neutral -Direct Seeding sites

Private land for revegetation still neededTrees For Life is looking for landholders willing to host carbon plantings in 2011. We need land in areas with an average rainfall of 350mm annually or more. We cover all the costs of revegetation and pay you a small stewardship fee to watch over and protect the plantings. To participate you must be willing to enter a formal legal agreement to protect the plantings for either 50 or 100 years. For more information phone the TFL office for an information sheet or call Dennis Hayles on 0429 142 499 to arrange a site visit.

Gladstone site improves biodiversity

When mature, our 20 ha site further afield at Gladstone

will protect and enhance the small pockets of remnant vegetation already on site.

A section of the renowned Heysen Trail runs along the southern perimeter of the site and its many visitors will benefit from the improved biodiversity being created.

This site is fully funded by Acer Computers Australia as part of its drive to fund 1 million trees over the next few years.

Trees For Life volunteers and local school children have also helped out with the planting.

Germination despite dry conditions

Growth on sites in some of the drier areas of our state

has been slower but germination is still occurring one year on and will continue to occur for the next few years,

demonstrating the benefits of the direct seeding method.

Our 12 ha site at Moorlands is a good example of germination still occuring despite dry conditions.

The Moorland site has been fully funded by Elderton Wines, Extreme Machining Australia Pty Ltd and Whyalla Veterinary Clinic.

20ha of revegetation on this Gladstone site will sequester 2830 tonnes of CO2.

TFL volunteers Alan Dandie and Richard Winkler after their work on the Gladstone site.

TFL Volunteers and schoolchildren helped plant seedlings on the Gladstone site.

13ha is being revegetated on the Moorlands site, with 1500 tonnes of CO2 to be sequestered in 100 years.

Germination from 2008. New germination after autumn rains in April, 2009


Thank you to painting volunteers

Our volunteers are a wonderful bunch, proved

once again by those who put up their hands to paint the interior of our May Terrace house.

Led by long-term volunteer and painting ‘guru’ Dennis Slade and joined by other regulars including Campbell McKnight, the arduous job has been completed. And it looks magnificent.

So thank you once again to our volunteer painting team for your time, effort and commitment.

Fun had by all on dolphin cruise

A drizzling rain and some dolphin shyness didn’t stop

people from enjoying our recent member event, the Port River Dolphin cruise.

The cruise, which was attended by 160 TFL members and friends, included lunch and a talk by guest speaker, Aaron Machado, President of the Australian Marine Wildlife Research and Rescue Organisation.

Aaron provided us with a great insight into the threats facing dolphins, seabirds and other animals in and around the Port River. He also showed members some very graphic images of injury caused by discarded hooks and fishing line.

Like TFL, the association’s staff and volunteers are very committed to their cause, so if you want to find out more about them log onto www.amwrro.org.au

A sincere thanks to Aaron for giving up his time to address our group (and we promise to organise a microphone next time!).

Thank you also to everyone for attending and making the event a great success. Stay tuned for our next members event.

Be entertained – at a discount

If you like going out to restaurants, movies or want

to try new activities but still like to save money where you can, a Gold Entertainment Book is a must.

You can order a book by phoning Leean Eagle on 0407 879 726 (cost $65) or email [email protected]

By ordering through Leean, Entertainment Publications will donate a percentage from every book sold to Trees For Life. You’ll save money and be helping the environment out in the process.

BFL staff receive praise

We recently received a wonderful letter from one

of our bushcarers, praising the work our coordinators do. We thought it would be nice to share it.

Dear Randall,I enjoyed the extended

BAT and Yorke Peninsula so much I feel that just saying ‘thanks’ at the end of the trip is not quite enough.

So I’m writing to acknowledge that the trip would have required much planning, commitment to the various jobs and our safety, constant concentration on the roads and lots of hard work – setting up, packing away, carting and carrying, boiling kettles and cleaning tools etc etc – all day and then some more! All done with lots of laughs!

It was wonderful being in your care and I want to most sincerely thank you and Sam.

Thank you. Judith Materne.

Our inaugural participation in the 2010 Fringe Parade was a resounding success, thanks to staff and our great volunteers. With our wobble boards, signs and cut-out animals, we received a great response from the public. Well done to all!

Dennis Slade, left, and Campbell McKnight.

New workshop to improve biodiversity on your property

This year TFL is offering members a half-day

workshop for landholders who want to find out more about options for improving biodiversity on their properties.

What is the best approach - tubestock planting, natural regeneration, direct seeding? How do you go about choosing the best strategy and techniques for your own situation?

The workshop will integrate aspects of TFL’s Tree Scheme, Bush For Life and Direct Seeding. Establishing a good strategic framework for the long term works you are embarking on for your property can save a lot of time, money and maximize the biodiversity gains for the efforts you put in.

Who: Property owners who are starting off on their revegetation journey or want to reassess their direction.

Time: 9am-1pm, followed by a working lunch (byo) 1-2pm for a round table discussion on your own revegetation issues.

Dates: (Choose one of the following)

• Brooklyn Park, • Thursday July 29

• Mount Barker • Saturday August 28

• Gawler • Saturday November 13

• Willunga • Thursday December 2.

Book now by phoning TFL on 8406 0500. Places are limited.

Funded under the Federal Government’s Caring For Our Country program.


2010 seed collecting workshop (SC1)Thurs July 1 Belair National Park

2010 group seed collecting days (SD1)Thurs July 8 meet Springton (by the Herbig Family Tree)

2010 Bush For Life workshops (B1)

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer on one of our Bush For Life sites or would like to learn more about managing

your own bushland then come along to an Introductory Bush For Life workshop. Phone 8406 0500 to register for workshops.

2 nights June 10 & June 17 Brooklyn Park (field trip tba) Tues June 22 BelairSat June 26 MilangThurs July 1 StirlingSat July 17 Port AdelaideSat August 7 GawlerThurs August 19 BurnsideSat September 4 Brooklyn ParkSat September 18 BelairTues October 12 Mt BarkerThurs October 21 WillungaFri November 5 Stirling

2010 Advanced BFL workshops(these workshops are for existing BFL volunteersBroadleaf weeds Wed June 30 FieldBrushcutting 2 days Jul 8-9 Brooklyn Park & FieldPlant ID Theory Sat July 24 StirlingPlant ID Theory Fri Sept 24 Brooklyn Park

Be on our new TFL banner

Thank you to those members who have sent in their

wonderful photos for development of a new vertical pull-up banner to represent TFL at promotional events.

One example is below, ‘pop’ Tony Spence with his grandson eight-year-old Cooper, at a recent TFL workshop.

We have decided to extend the entry period so we can get some more submissions from you all.

And in case you need a reminder, we’re ideally looking for a photo which comprises an older person alongside a

young person, possibly up to age 12. They could be holding a seedling, planting a seedling or just looking at one. We want it to represent educating younger generations about the importance of the environment.

The only stipulations are that the photographer or subject(s) must be TFL members, they should be close-up photos and very high resolutions (approximately 2MB).

The winning photograph will be published in an edition of ReLeaf and also developed into the banner.

Submissions can be emailed to [email protected]. For more information please phone Tania Kearney on 8406 0500.

Workshops in the Northern & Yorke district

The Department for Environment and Heritage has commissioned Trees For Life to run two full day workshops in

the NY district. The workshops will cover plant identification, seed collection and propagation techniques. Phone TFL to register for a place and get more details. You don’t need to be a TFL member to attend these workshops.

Southern Yorke Peninsula Tues June 22Southern Flinders district Thurs June 24

For Members

Tony Spence, of Reynella, shows grandson Cooper how to fill tubes at a TFL workshop.

Trees For Life Winter 2010 Number 115

Service Directory

Useful contactsNRM Board Contacts Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges Kym Good 8273 9100Alinytjara Wilurara Lorraine Rosenberg 8357 3880Eyre Peninsula Kate Clarke 8682 5655Kangaroo Island Jeanette Gellard 8553 4300Northern & Yorke 8636 2361South Australian Arid Lands John Gavin 8648 5194South Australian Murray-Darling Basin John Johnson 8532 1432South East Hugo Hopton 8724 6000

Local native seed & seedling suppliersTrees For Life 8406 0500Blackwood Seeds - Fleurieu Peninsula, Mid North, Adelaide Hills & Murray Mallee 8558 8288Northern Lofty Native Seeds - Ph 8566 3073 Northern Lofty provenance. Fax 8566 3630Provenance Indigenous Nursery - Adelaide coast, plains and hills 8345 0300Themeda - Adelaide Plains 8352 6778 Wirrascape - Aldinga Plains 8557 4173Fleurieu Natives - Adelaide Hills and South Coast 8556 9167Yorke Seeds - Yorke Peninsula 8853 1120Eucaleuca Native Services - South East 8762 2061Growing Bush - Southern Mt Lofty Ranges & South Adelaide 0427 722 979Alexandrina Community Nursery - Southern Fleurieu and South Coast 8554 2555Eyre Native Seeds - Eyre Peninsula & Far West 8682 6233 Barossa Bushgardens - Barossa region 0448 676 348Natural State - Mallee, Riverland, Adelaide Hills, South Coast, South East (www.naturalstate.com.au) 8572 3049 South Para Biodiversity Project - Yvonne Gravier 0430 018 007

Trees For LifeTrees For Life, 5 May Tce, Brooklyn Park 5032Ph: (08) 8406 0500; Fax: (08) 8406 [email protected]; www.treesforlife.org.au

Trees For Life BoardPresident - David MitchellVice President - Mary-Anne HealyTreasurer - David BradleySecretary - Megan HarperBoard Members - David Grybowski, Warren Hilton, Jonathan Lambert, Nathan Daniell, Michael Cain and Megan Antcliff.

Trees For Life Key ContactsChief Executive Officer - Carmel DundonOffice Manager - Alison PlattTree Scheme Manager - Maureen RedfernBush For Life Manager - Mark EllisDirect Seeding Manager - David HeinCN Operations (Land) - Dennis HaylesSeedbank Manager - Bruce SmithMembership - Carly GowersSponsorship - Glenys PerriCommunications - Tania KearneyFundraising - Bernie Omodei

Trees For Life Rural ContactsGawler Sylvia Nieuwenhuizen 8406 8419Noarlunga Graham Greaves 8386 1018Willunga Joyce West 8323 7513 Paul Rosser 8323 8189Mt Gambier Briony Schleuniger 8724 9759Mt Pleasant Ruth Charlesworth 8524 6661Clare Dean Schubert 8843 4317

TFL BOARD NOMINATION FORMNomination form for:Vice-President, Treasurer, Ordinary Board Members (2)

I nominate myself/the person below for the position of:

...............................................................................................

Name of Nominee ................................................................

Membership No.....................................................................

Signature ...............................................................................

Nominated by ........................................................................

Membership No .....................................................................

Signature ................................................................................

14


Member Offers, Sponsors and Supporters

DisclaimerTrees For Life takes no responsibility for the services or products featured in its quarterly magazine, ReLeaf.

Perpetual Sponsor

New box sets for Earth Greetings

Earth Greetings has released some beautiful new box sets.

The new Dreamscapes boxed greeting card packs contain two each of Earth Greeting’s four prettiest greeting cards - Bees & Waxflower, Monarch Butterflies, Magpies Meet & Fairy Wrens.

And as in the past, every pack sold helps plant a tree through Earth Greetings’ on-going support of Trees For Life. RRP for the packs is $14.95.

Earth Greetings has also recently signed up to Facebook and Twitter so make sure you log on and take a look.

B4E bag supports environment

Trees For Life is proud to be associated with forward-

thinking South Australian business B4E (Business For the Environment).

TFL sponsorship Officer Glenys Perri spoke at a recent launch of the organisation’s new B4E bag at The Edinburgh Hotel. The B4E bag promotes local businesses and is given to customers free-of-charge. They are sturdy recycled paper bags that are both totally recyclable and bio-degradable. Part proceeds from the bag are being donated to TFL for revegetation initiatives.

TFL Sponsorship Officer Glenys Perri, with B4E Director Greg Ross.

The Settlement Wine Co continues to support Trees For Life by offering its members an

outstanding offer of a dozen bottles of Sparkling Shiraz and NV Sparkling Brut, or a mixed

dozen for just $109 (normally $144).

The NV Sparkling Brut is a dry style Sparkling Pinot Chardonnay, well balanced with aromas of melon and a crsip,

dry finish.

The Sparkling Shiraz is a fruit driven style with a soft velvety mouth feel and hints of prune and spice.

Download the order form from the TFL website offer page www.treesforlife.org.au

http://www.thesettlementwineco.com.au

Business support is important

Are you a Trees For Life member who owns or works

in business, or has family and friends who do?

Do you volunteer or have family or friends who volunteer or order trees through TFL?

If so, we invite you to consider supporting TFL through your business networks.

TFL really does need further support from businesses to continue our work in revegetation and conservation. Funding from government sectors is not something we can heavily rely upon.

For many businesses, supporting TFL addresses their businesses commitment to give back to the community and is part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.

As an example, Arnotts biscuit factory at Marleston recently decided to get staff thinking more about their impact on the environment.

Their focus was on Earth Day on April 22, and staff were encouraged to car pool, turn off lights when not needed and an indigenous garden was planted on the day with the help of staff.

The factory also hosted several exhibits, which informed people how they could change certain actions and help our environment. One of the exhibitors was TFL.

As a way of ‘giving back’, Arnotts has kindly donated biscuits to TFL for our volunteers to enjoy after a hard day’s BAT activity or when they are in the office helping out with mailings, seed weighing etc and general office tasks.

Every little bit helps, whether it is a donation of goods (ie. solar panels from Greenswitch), or services (ie. computer support from Caramel Computers).

Your support could also be similar to one of our sponsors, Earth Greetings, which makes a donation for every pack of greeting cards

sold. It helps their business’s market position, while at the same time helping TFL.

If you’d like to find out how you can make a difference through TFL, phone sponsorship officer Glenys Perri on 8406 0512


Maggie the m

agpie by Hannah

Did you know?

Did you know that approximately one trillion

plastic bags are used and discarded around the world every year?

It is estimated that the average plastic bag is used for only 12 minutes, however it can last for up to 1000 years!

In Australia 50 million plastic bags enter the litter stream each year. Due to their light weight and ability to float in water, they can travel long distances and cause considerable damage.

As well as being unsightly in our environment, thousands of seabirds and marine animals around the world are killed by plastic each year, through entanglements and ingestion. Once an animal is killed by a plastic bag, the animal decomposes, yet the plastic remains intact – potentially

damaging more animals, becoming a ‘serial killer’.

The good news is that last year South Australia became the first state/territory in Australia to ban the sale of HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) bags – these are the thin bags used by over 80% of retailers. This means that each year there will be almost 400 million fewer plastic bags in our state, with shoppers instead bringing their own reusable bags.

Quiz: True or False

1. Plastic bags cannot be recycled?

2. Over the last 20 years, plastic has been the most common category of rubbish collected on Clean Up Australia Day?

3. Plastic bags have been around for over 100 years?

4. Greenhouse gases are emitted during the production of plastic bags?

Answers: 1. False. Plastic bags can be returned to your supermarket for recycling. 2. True. 3. False. They’ve existed for just over 30 years. 4. True.

Let’s help protect our dolphinsBy BESS HILLYARD TFL Membership Officer

In March this year Trees For Life hosted a Port River

Dolphin Cruise, on the Dolphin Explorer. During this member event not only were we were lucky to see several dolphins, but we also got to learn about the plight of dolphins and other aquatic animals from guest speaker and president of the Australian Marine Wildlife Research and Rescue Organisation (AMWRRO), Aaron Machado.

AMWRRO was launched in February this year after running as Project Dolphin Safe. Project Dolphin Safe was established in 1998 as a result of the senseless killing of six bottlenose dolphins in the Port River. The organisation focused on protecting the Port River dolphin population and habitat by patrolling the river, attending to animal emergencies, cleaning up their environment, revegetating and educating the community. Project Dolphin Safe later aligned with SA Seabird Rescue and together they worked to protect a wide range of animals including birds, turtles, dolphins, seals and sea lions.

As Aaron spoke about the dangers facing animals not only in the Port River, but other SA waters also, it became clear that humans are responsible for many injuries (and even deaths) that could be avoided. One of the main threats to wildlife is contact with materials such as fishing equipment and discarded plastics. Not only does wildlife ingest plastic bags, fishing line and deathly sharp hooks, but they often become entangled. Can you believe that the organisation has rescued one particular pelican from entanglements seven times!

Another threat is feeding wildlife. This is a problem because it creates an unnatural

diet, and can actually make an animal sick. Feeding bread to ducks, for example, can actually cause fatty tumors to develop as ducks are naturally herbivorous. The organisation also came across a member of the public feeding beef and pork to a ‘rescued’ penguin (I have never heard of a penguin naturally eating cows and pigs, have you?).

We are lucky in Adelaide to live so close to dolphins, seabirds and other aquatic animals. Ways that we can help protect them is to make sure that we dispose of our litter responsibly, to never leave fishing equipment unattended, and to admire wildlife from a safe distance – allowing them to remain ‘wild’.

For more information please visit www.amwrro.org.au

If you’d like to draw some pictures of dolphins or other wildlife, please send them in to us at Kids Branch!

A giant tree, by Abel, 5.

Budding environmentalists Ben Copus and Solomon Bedi join TFL’s Fringe group.

Also being green wih TFL are Ava Elder-Steele and Cody Dodd.

releaf winter 2010

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