A Shelterbelt Workshop discussing: What have we learnt? & How have ideas changed?
A Shelterbelt Workshop discussing: What have we learnt? & How have ideas changed?
A knowledge-sharing event to finish off a unique three-year revegetation project in the region.
Capacity to Deliver -
LP011-019
The issue
Landcare has been protecting and planting shelterbelts for a long time and with the completion of a three-year revegetation project funded by the NSW Environmental Trust and facilitated by Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc, we wanted to ensure that our methods were evolving and adapting to best practice. Some of the questions we sought answers to at the workshop included:
Is direct seeding more economical for plantings? Has the planting season moved with global warming? How do you plant shelterbelts for use as emergency food sources? What time of the year should preparations and planting be undertaken? What features of a shelterbelt increase lambing survival, and how do we incorporate that into our designs? What are the mental well-being benefits of having a property with increased revegetation on it?
The solution
Four speakers spoke at the workshop on the theme of “ What have we learnt? & How have ideas changed around revegetation and shelterbelts?” Owen Whitaker from Natural Capital spoke on the methods of native vegetation establishment, direct seeding vs tube stock, and the practical aspects of restoration work to maximise the survivability of your revegetation project. Dr John Broster from the Graham Sustainability Institute at CSU then deepened our knowledge on increasing lamb survival with shelterbelts and the economic benefits of revegetating sections of your property. The morning concluded with a Q and A session paneled by Dr Richard Beggs, an ecologist from ANU Sustainable Farms and Junee Landcare Chair John Hopkins. They both spoke at length about John's motivations, experience and plans for future revegetation projects on his property.
The impact
The event was engaging with lots of practical advice on planting revegetation projects and many participants left the event with new insights and plans for their future projects. The workshop was an excellent opportunity to dispel old outdated myths around planting shelterbelts and update the members of the community on new and upcoming research and technologies in the field.
The event also had a decisive turn out of 50 participants, many of whom were not Junee Landcare members; this was an excellent opportunity to get more community members through the door of a Landcare event to learn more about what we do at Landcare.
If you missed the event, then you can access complete recordings of all the presentations available soon at Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc website mli.org.au or on the Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc Facebook page.
Key facts
- Workshop delivered to 50 participants
- There are financial pros and cons to establishing shelterbelts on your property, but the substantial mental health gains are also immeasurable.
- Planting shelterbelts can give mixed farming operations even greater flexibility. They promote diverse plant, insect, bird and native animal species whilst discouraging introduced species.