Message from the Local Landcare Coordinators

Dear Friends,

We hope you are having a great start to the year!

Greater Sydney Landcare is busy protecting our precious natural environment, planting native trees and shrubs, fighting to save our koalas and conducting vital Streamwatch training and events. We encourage you to get in touch and get involved in this important work!

Greater Sydney Landcare is excited to inform you that we have officially begun our new Creating Canopies project. After successfully planting 100,000 plants across Greater Sydney over the last 2 years, our new target is to plant 200,000 plants across Greater Sydney before the end of 2025. We won't be able to reach this goal without help from you, so if you can please come along and plant some trees and shrubs with us!

We are in the process of making a short video inspiring others to become Landcarers / Bushcare volunteers. If you would like to participate in a short interview on why you decided to become a volunteer, the work you do, the kind of positive environmental impact you are having and encouraging others to join as volunteers, please contact Chris McMillan: 
chris.mcmillan@greatersydneylandcare.org

Seen you soon!

Chris + Jess
On behalf of the Greater Sydney Landcare Team                                                             

https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/regions/greater-sydney/community-groups/the-state-of-bushcare-and-landcare-201920 

https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/1453563/The-state-of-Landcare-and-Bushcare-2021-22-FINAL.pdf

Special thanks to Madeleine Florin (Regional Landcare Coordinator for Greater Sydney Local Land Services) for all her hard work in pulling this together!

Landcare NSW and Greater Sydney Landcare are thrilled to announce that Creating Canopies has secured funding as part of the Sydney Canopies Project from the NSW Government to plant 200,000 trees and shrubs across Greater Sydney over the next 3 years! This is a huge step towards creating a greener and cooler city, improving air quality, and creating habitat for our native wildlife.

We kicked off our first planting event to celebrate our new Creating Canopies project with a very hot but rewarding planting day at the beautiful Nurragingy Reserve in Western Sydney. Staff from Blacktown City Council helped us get a whopping 1,500 trees and shrubs planted at the brand new Wawai Ngurra inclusive adventure playspace. All the plants were given a good watering in and will continue to be looked after in the coming weeks.

We can't wait to put on more events and we hope you'll join us in making Sydney a better place to live, work, and play. Stay tuned for updates on how you can get involved! Our first community planting day is coming up in Penrith in collaboration with the Hawkesbury-Nepean Landcare Network. Grab your tickets and come along on Thurs 23rd March. We'll be adding more events in the coming weeks so keep an eye out on our Eventbrite page.

The Creating Canopies team added 1,600 native plants to Camden Park on the outskirts of Southwest Sydney in November 2021. Just a year later, there is now a thick understory of local flora. Different vegetation types attract different species. The open parklands with tall trees and no understory suits predator birds and more aggressive species. Understory vegetation is really important for lots of smaller bird species who need to hide from predators or build nests in the bushy shrubs.

Adventure weekend, bushland restoration and connecting to country and culture in a remote part of the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

Capertee Valley Landcare, Greater Sydney Landcare and Central Tablelands Local Land Services have teamed up to offer this epic Landcare escape.

This event gives you the opportunity to learn about the incredible flora and fauna that live in the bushland in the World Heritage-listed Wollemi National Park and take action to protect it. You'll be able to explore the beautiful Capertee Valley and connect with like-minded people who are passionate about habitat and biodiversity.

On this awesome adventure, we’ll be journeying out to the Capertee Valley, the second largest canyon in the world and setting up camp amongst the cliffs.

Friday – Arrive and settle into camp
NSW Fisheries – Capertee River Habitat Assessment Survey

Saturday - Get Your Hands Dirty
We'll be learning about environmental weeds that threaten the local bushland on the Capertee River that flows into the wild Colo River. We'll team up with Central Tablelands Local Land Services and the Capertee Valley Landcare group and get our hands dirty to help remove the weeds.

Sunday - Explore
To experience the incredible scenery of the Capertee Valley and learn about the area, we'll head out on a guided bushwalk. The Capertee Valley is recognised internationally as an Important Bird Area (IBA) containing good numbers of critically endangered Regent Honeyeaters, Swift Parrots and Glossy-Black Cockatoos, among other highly endangered birds and we just might be lucky enough to spot one. We'll head home just after lunch.

So, if you've always been keen to make a difference but don't know where to start, or just want a weekend in the bush with some like-minded peeps for a great adventure, now is your chance to get involved!

Please be advised you will need a reasonable level of fitness to attend. On-site training and tools are provided.

For the weekend, we will need you to bring:

RSVPs are essential. So, to avoid disappointment, register ASAP.

More details and instructions on location and exact meeting point will be provided to those who have registered. For more information, contact Jess Lumbroso on 0414 094 495 or jessica.lumbroso@greatersydneylandcare.org

We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of this land, the Wiradjuri people. "Ngangaanha Yindyamarra Yawali Ngurambanggu” - to acknowledge, look after, respect and care for Country.

This project is supported by Central Tablelands Local Land Services and Capertee Valley Landcare. 

The event registration for 31^st March - 2^nd April event is now live:
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/550141085797

There is a great opportunity for Councils, Community Groups, Universities and Schools to get involved with bats in backyards!

Citizen science opportunity finishes in mid-March!

A huge thank you to all stakeholders who have helped promote the Bats in Backyards project so far. This first year and the success of this year will determine the long-term funding stability of the project.

We need your help to reach more landholders (anyone with even the smallest outside space) / schools / landcare groups / First Nations land managers / councils before mid-March when the EOI closes!

Feel to get in touch or repost any resources:

https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/research-and-publications/your-research/citizen-science/get-involved/bats-in-backyards

https://www.instagram.com/p/CkXk4QrBx3I/

Contact person:
Dr Joanna Haddock
Senior Threatened Species Officer
Bats in Backyards Coordinator
Department of Planning and Environment
Phone: (02) 9585 6033 | Email: batsinbackyards@environment.nsw.gov.au

1. Woolworths Junior Landcare $1 Million Grants Program – grants open

The latest round of the Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants program has officially opened, offering primary schools and early learning centres across Australia the chance to share in $1 million to help grow the next generation of environmental champions. Woolworths and Landcare Australia are calling on all Aussie primary schools and early learning centres to apply for a grant of up to $1,000 to help them develop projects focused on sustainability and inspiring students to play an active role in the future of their natural environment. This could include growing veggie or bush tucker gardens, creating compost for school gardening beds, setting up nest boxes or creating habitats to protect native wildlife.
 
The schools in your region may like to apply for this grant to help them get started on a Landcare project.
 
A guide of Top 10 Woolworths Junior Landcare Project Ideas is available here, with ideas to help bring environmental education and First Nations perspectives into your school or early learning centre.
 
Applications for the 2023 Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants are open now and close 17 March 2023. To find out more about the Woolworths Junior Landcare Grants Program and to apply, visit juniorlandcare.org.au.
 

2. Junior Landcare Professional Development Webinar with Costa on Tuesday 7 March at 4pm AEDT

How to use Junior Landcare’s new First Nations perspectives resources in community group and classrooms hosted by Junior Landcare educator and landcare facilitator Sam Harrison – this website for educators and landcare facilitators working with schools.
 
Join Junior Landcare ambassador Costa Georgiadis in conversation with proud Wiradjuri man and First Nations educator Adam Shipp about the importance of embedding First Nations perspectives into everyday learning and environmental education for children and young people. This exciting Junior Landcare webinar will also provide a first-hand look and discussion around two new series of First Nations perspectives resources coming to the Junior Landcare Learning centre:

·       First Nations Yarning Circle series
·       How to connect with Traditional Owners and First Nations people in your Community series.
 
The 60 minute webinar will be held on Tuesday March 7 at 4pm (AEDT), educators will receive a professional development certificate.

To register please click here: 
https://landcareaustralia.org.au/webinars/first-nations-perspectives-resources
 
 
3. Landcare Farming Program Webinar - Maximising Ecosystem Opportunities to Fit Your Business: Biodiversity 

In an industry increasingly concerned with aligning best practice land and biodiversity management with profitable production, improving biodiversity literacy and understanding environmental accounting methods is critical for producers. The presentation will last for 1 hour and 40 minutes followed by 20 minutes of audience questions. With the support of five industry experts, this webinar will help:
 
· Grow your understanding of biodiversity on-farm and the emerging biodiversity markets
· Improve your capacity to participate in emerging environmental markets
· Develop your knowledge of environmental condition and natural capital accounting systems
· Enhance your skills in natural capital accounting and environmental assessment
· Facilitated by Pamela Greet (Future Ag QLD), it features a panel of 5 speakers: Dr Hugh Possingham (University of Queensland), Dr Amanda Hansson (Accounting for Nature), Dr Ryan Wilson (DCCEEW), Dr Hayley McMillan (DAF QLD), and Nadia Campbell (Goondicum Pastoral).

The webinar will be held on Tuesday 4 April 1pm to 3pm (AEDT)

To register please click here: https://landcareaustralia.org.au/webinars/
 
You can catch up on previous webinars, or subscribe to receive updates here: https://landcareaustralia.org.au/webinars/
 
4. Gallagher Landcare Electric Fencing Grants – opens March 6

Applications for the 2023 Gallagher Electric Fencing Grants will launch on March 6. A total pool of $176,000 (ex-GST) of support is available for up to 22 groups or individuals for use on conservation and biodiversity protection projects aligned with the priority areas of conservation exclusion/inclusion fencing, riparian protection and farm dam restoration. Each grant is valued at up to $8000 (ex-GST) and must be used on electric fencing materials that are determined in consultation with the applicant’s local Gallagher Territory Manager. More information will be available on the Landcare Australia website from March 6.  

Top Ten Tips for giving up single-use plastics:

1. Cut out sodas, juices and all other plastic-bottled beverages.

2. Carry reusable shopping bags.

3. Reuse takeaway containers for leftovers.

4. When ordering pizza, say no to the little plastic “table” in the middle of the pizza box.

5. Buy fresh bread that comes in either paper bags or no bag.

6. Avoid plastic cups, cutlery and straws.

7. Avoid plastic food packaging for fruit, veg, dry goods and meat (bring your own reusable containers to the shops).

8. Avoid milk in plastic bottles - glass keeps it fresher for longer!

9. Choose toilet paper that’s not wrapped in plastic.

10. Take time to read labels and avoid plastic ingredients, in products and food!

Check out all our latest activities (you might even spot yourself!) by following our social media accounts: