Green Skills has recently obtained support from a consortium of groups and individuals to help deliver 8 km of fencing support for an important eco linkage project on Glendavale farm 30km east of Borden
What will the Ecolink achieve ?
The fencing, installed by the farmer as their contribution to the project, will protect the combined 30 hectares of bio-diverse re-vegetation and 70 hectares of remnant bushland from sheep grazing.
The project will make a contribution to recovery programs for various threatened species. In particular, the more than 45 species of flora to be included in the revegetation mix will provide essential low and dense understorey.
The eco-link will benefit specific fauna species including the Malleefowl, a range of other birds that are limited by excessive gaps between remnants, and a range of marsupial species such as honey possums. In addition, threatened reptile species such as carpet snake will also benefit. Specific attention has been placed on including a range of Banksia and other proteaceous species into the revegetation mix to provide future extended feeding habitat for both Red tailed and Carnaby’s Cockatoos.
Collaboration and Support
The project is a collaboration between the landowners, Stuart and Ali Hocking, Greening Australia, who are implementing the bio-diverse direct seeding revegetation and Green Skills who have raised the funds for part of the fencing material costs.
Landmark Farm Supplies, in Mt Barker, provided discounted pricing for the fencing materials. Other organisations that have provided in kind support include Gondwana Link Ltd, Bush Heritage Australia, the Oyster Harbour Catchment Committee and others.
Money has been raised through the Denmark based Koorabup Trust and crowdfunding through Chuffed.org.
Many individual donors provided contributions as did the Great Walk Networking. Bill and Jane Thompson, owners of neighbouring Yarraweyah Falls property, have supported the project by providing seed for a variety of local proteaceous species.
Next steps
Fenced bushland and revegetation areas are being closely monitored over coming months, with appropriate weed and pest control actions planned if needed. Now that Stage 1 of the Glendavale Eco-Link project is established, planning has commenced for Stage 2.
Stage 2 of the Eco-link project 2018 comprising installation of a further 7.6 km of fencing, protecting 30.6 ha of revegetation/waterway foreshores and 92 hectares of dieback-free proteaceous-rich remnants from stock grazing.
We look forward to further community support to keep the momentum going!
Acknowledgement
This project is supported by the Australian Government’s 20 Million Trees Programme (part of the National Landcare Programme) and Greening Australia. Green Skills has received financial support from the Koorabup Trust, Great Walk Networking Inc, many individual donors, and in kind support from a range of organisations and businesses.
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