Four Seasons of Seed in Revegetation
Four Seasons of Seed in Revegetation
Four workshops based on seed collection, propagation, direct seeding and planting, plant identification and weed control.
Capacity to Deliver -
LP011-040
The issue
Understanding the steps to revegetation and what season to collect seeds, propagate, plant, direct seed and maintain your site can have a serious impact on revegetation. Hay Plains Landcare hosted a workshop series called ‘Four Seasons of Seed’ based on the journey of revegetation with Ecologist, Conargo pastoral landholder and Project Manager with the Australian Network for Plant Conservation, Martin Driver
The solution
Summer workshop focused on seed collection, with over 30 people understanding the legalities behind how to collect and store seed. Displays included various samples of seeds endemic to the Hay area. The workshop finished with a tour along the Travelling Stock Route to explore various seeds and pods on native trees.
Autumn workshop discussed the treatments required for different seed species, a variety of germination techniques and tips for transplanting seedlings. Demonstrations and displays were provided by Bill Auldist (Local Land Services), Joanne Diver (Backyard Garden enthusiast), Sally Ware (Local Land Services), Hay Plains Landcare and Martin Driver. The workshop finished with 30 participants making their own tray of seedlings to take home and nurture.
Winter workshop, 35 participants travelled to Marg and Colin Bull’s Property ‘Oakville’, to learn about the different methods of direct seeding and planting, and observe the success of past plantings on 200 hectares of fenced remnant areas on the property. Participants undertook paddock walks, witnessed demonstrations of direct seeding on a fenced sandhill by Martin Driver, Bill Auldist and Natasha Lappin from Murray Local Land Services and Murray Seed Services, and practiced using Pottiputkis and Hamilton tree planters to plant seedlings on a sandhill.
Spring workshop had 25 participants return to ‘Oakville’ to observe the germination results from the winter workshop and learn the different methods of site management and weed control with Martin Driver. Colin Bull demonstrated the removal of boxthorn with a hydraulic arm attachment on his tractor and spoke about rabbit management strategies for the fenced vegetation areas on ‘Oakville’. The workshop ended with participants travelling to a 40-hectare fenced off block on the property 'Waterloo’, observing the benefits of retaining native vegetation and identifying native plants.
The impact
- Increased knowledge of the local and surrounding communities and their land owners.
- Increased landholder capacity.
- Increased region-specific vegetation.
- Produced a 3-minute film for others to benefit from the direct seeding workshop.
- Produced a 30 page revegetation guide for others to benefit from the workshop series.
Key facts
- Increasing biodiversity improves the overall health and function of your property
- Collection of native seed is a cost-effective way to restore native species
- The best time to propagate native seed is spring
- Direct seeding method can be an effective and efficient way of planting
- Weeds need to be controlled at least 1 metre around seedlings.