Hospital Ground Revitalisation
Hospital Ground Revitalisation
A decade long project to reopen, revitalise, and regenerate the hospital arboretum, for the benefit of patients, visitors, staff, and the local fauna.
Collaborations -
LP-022-039
The issue
Dead and dangerous trees, and failing pathways led NSW Health to close the Hospital Arboretum and associated Lowland Subtropical Rainforest EEC to the public. Because the area was closed, neither volunteers nor contractors had easy access to control the weeds which became increasingly rampant.
After five years of intensive work (2010-2015) the local volunteers were exhausted and overwhelmed. With the subsequent death of a key leader in the group, who was passionate about bush regeneration, and reduced membership, the group now focusses on the ornamental gardens up near the hospital cafe', and does not undertake bush regeneration.
Although volunteers could start to work the site, ongoing professional regenerator support will be needed.
The solution
As the area was made safe again, Bellinger Landcare gained funding from Bellingen Shire Council (BSC) to enable contractors to undertake major ongoing weeding and regeneration projects, making it feasible for local volunteers to do ongoing control. Additional assistance by contractors will be needed to bring more of the area under control.
Bellinger Landcare will continue to source other small grants to assist with this work, alongside the BSC grants, so that contractors can build on the gains made so far. The reinvigoration of local volunteers has the potential to consolidate and further accelerate this work.
The impact
Bellinger Landcare engaged contractors to control weeds, especially vines, across 2ha of the National Trust listed Arboretum, thus enhancing the biodiversity value of the site. Cats Claw Creeper (Dolichandra unguis-cati) was a dominant species.
This has created a foothold for local volunteers, should there be interest in creating a local Landcare group.
Combatting weeds in the Arboretum safeguarded ongoing bush regeneration work by Bellingen Urban Landcare, which is occurring downstream.
Workshops and media channels educated hospital staff and local residents about the benefits of weed control to protect native vegetation and the associated biodiversity and water quality benefits.
Key facts
- A collaboration between Local Volunteers, Hospital Staff, Local Council, Bellinger Landcare, Professional Bush Regenerators and NSW Health.
- The project enhanced biodiversity, and the healing effect of nature for patients, visitors and staff.