Regenerating Our Bushland after Fire, Upper Hawkesbury
Increasing local community capacity to manage environmental recovery through skill-based workshops and on ground support in Upper Hawkesbury. Focus for Bilpin, Mountain Lagoon, Kurrajong to East Kurrajong, Colo & Colo Heights, St Albans, Macdonald Valley and surrounds
Hawkesbury-Nepean Landcare Network (HNLN) is providing support to bushfire affected properties and providing advice on post-fire land management (e.g. weeds, soil) and conservation. We will be visiting properties, running workshops on topics of interest to you and building networks for long-term wildlife recovery and bushland management.
How we are helping:
- Property visits and on-ground advice.
- A recovery support network
- Workshops on topics relevant to the community
- Assist with sourcing funding to support further property restoration.
- Assist residents to be part of fire recovery research
Workshops so far:
- Community planting Day in Colo, Stage 1 to replant a paddock and create refuge habitat for wildlife. Partnered with GSLLS and FNPWS.
- Fencing Workshop in Macdonald Valley for landholders
- Bouncing Back After Bushfires, online webinar with FrogID and the Australian Musuem about how frogs are recovering after bushfires and what people can do to help. Can be viewed online here: https://youtu.be/1udRvYv0b88
- Bilpin Biodiversity Day
- Wombat mange and mapping workshop, with CVA in Macdonald Valley
- Recovering bushland in Bilpin, 2 days with CVA and local volunteers to manage weeds in bushfire effected areas
Other outcomes:
- 10 wildlife cameras have been purchased to assist with mange management (Valley for Wildlife) and monitor wildlife in fire affected areas.
- Valley for Wildlife group started with support from HNLN and this projects funding
- Growing network of Landcarers in Bilpin with a potential group forming
Many inquiries have come through with properties provided with advice on current grants, information about who to contact for their specific inquiry, or a property visit and assistance.
HNLN works to support people through the LLC funded by Landcare NSW and Hawkesbury River County Council. For this project we received $16, 000 from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) with 3 additional events funded by Conservation Volunteers Australia.