Riparian Restoration - Glen Davis
Riparian Restoration - Glen Davis
Landcare Youth Campouts in the Capertee Valley
Capacity to Deliver -
LP042 - 08
The issue
Our youth is extremely aware of the adversity facing our environment. But often it’s hard to know where to start or how to actively participate in addressing complex issues. Many young people across Sydney live in apartments and have never planted a tree or camped out in remote bushland to connect with country and nature.
The Capertee River is the headwaters of the Hawkesbury Nepean which is our largest east flowing river system in Sydney. Severely impacted and highly eroded during the 2022 floods, this river runs through Glen Davis Reserve, which was once an old farm, now overgrown with paddock weeds and home to the Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot both critically endangered. Capertee Valley Landcare is a small but mighty group that has welcomed our partnership and involvement to lend a helping hand. The bonus is that many friendships have developed.
The solution
In April 2022 & 2023, we held two Landcare campout weekends.
Emma Syme from Northeast Wiradjuri Co, Capertee Valley Landcare, Central Tablelands LLS & GSL have built strong relationships “Ngangaanha Yindyamarra Yawali Ngurambanggu”- To acknowledge, look after, respect and care for country.
This project offers a chance to work together to make Glen Davis Reserve a valued piece of riverside habitat and offers an epic adventure and chance to switch off from the internet and reconnect with each other in nature. It's a privilege to be welcomed onto country while taking action to protect a world heritage ecosystem, learning to restore and revegetate native habitat for endangered species, camp out in the wilderness under the stars around a campfire, share laughs, a home cooked dinner with local community, join in on a guided adventure, explore and swim in the river over a 3-day event with lasting impact.
Many came back to see how the first year’s plantings were going, to help maintain the site, remove weeds and plant more tree onto the riverbank to stabilise flood erosion. And most importantly to connect to the land, each other, and learn how to work together for a better future, young and old, from near and far.
The impact
We targeted Gleditsias (Honey Locus) using frill and fill, scrape & paint and basel barking techniques along the river to prevent their spread downstream into the Wollemi National Park. Treated and left privet in situ, as dead plants are needed to keep the bank stable. Weeds were treated along a 200 metre stretch of the Capertee River. We planted native local provenance along the riparian zone, created cattle guards, climbed a mountain, swam in the Wolgan River, rolled up our sleeves and lent a helping hand to our neighbours.
Key facts
- We planted 250 trees with 70 volunteer participants over the two events.
- 50% of participants were first timers to Landcare.
- UTS OAC ongoing engagement – a very enthusiastic outdoor group keen to contribute to Landcare and continue their relationship with GSL to deliver more adventure conservation events for young adventurous.