NSW host to iconic animal

The koala is one of our most iconic native animals. They are known to be quite fussy eaters, but did you know that the two or three primary species they prefer for food vary across their range?

Koalas feed almost exclusively on eucalyptus leaves, consuming about half a kilogram per day. A recent review has found that the preferred species vary depending on where the koalas live, with 137 species identified in NSW. The patterns of koala tree use varied at regional levels and displayed a complex relationship between the food, shelter and social requirements of individuals and the quality and diversity of existing vegetation.

Red gums and mahoganies were the preferred food source around Sydney; tallowwood and forest red gum in northern NSW; manna gum in the south; and river red gum and ribbon gum in the west. Paperbark, she-oak, brush box and acacia are also important species, providing shelter for these sedentary marsupials.

Eucalypt leaves are not the easiest things to digest and contain little energy, koalas conserve energy by sleeping for most of the day and looking for food in the evening. They can be hard to spot in the wild, but current estimates put the wild population of koalas in NSW at around 30,000 to 40,000.

Koala populations are under pressure from urban expansion, bush fires, car strikes, dog attacks and disease. In 1992, the New South Wales Government listed the koala as a threatened species and in the same year koala populations in Queensland, NSW and ACT were listed as vulnerable to extinction under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Koalas in New South Wales are some of the most genetically diverse in the country. This genetic diversity may be critical to future conservation efforts and survival of the species.

A new website, developed in partnership with the community, has been launched to build a virtual community of koala conservationists, provide information about koalas and highlight the people working to save them in NSW.

You can find out about opportunities to get involved in koala conservation initiatives by visiting koala.nsw.gov.au.

The Office of Environment and Heritage is also developing a koala sightings and survey app. This tool will allow members of the public to record details of koala sightings in the wild, to help improve the information available about where koalas are, nearby risks and how to conserve them.

Local plants, honey at the Field Days

The Mudgee Small Farm Field Days are on this Friday and Saturday at the Australian Rural Education Centre (AREC) Ulan Rd, Mudgee.

The Field Days aim to promote innovation and information on farming, particularly for small acreages, with demonstrations, workshops, livestock exhibits and thousands of products on display. This is a unique opportunity to talk face-to-face with a multitude of exhibitors, all in the one place.

Watershed Landcare has a great 2 days of lectures lined up in the Straw Bale Lecture Room (L8). Our speakers will cover a diverse range of topics including regenerative agriculture, soil health, Permaculture design, native pollinators and fascinating fungi. Visit our website for the full lecture program: www.watershedlandcare.com.au/events.

We will also have plenty of information and displays at the Waterwise Garden demonstration site (L9). Drop by and warm up by the fire, chat with other Watershed Landcare members, find out what we do, how to get involved in our projects and become a member.

Come along and see our display of hardy, drought tolerant plants for the Mudgee district or join us for an active workshop building bee motels and learn about our native pollinators and how to provide habitat for them in your backyard.

The Mudgee Bee Group will also have a display. Learn about keeping your own bees, what’s involved and different hive types. Members will be on-hand to answer your questions and share their experiences and will have honey and bees wax wraps for sale.

You can bring along any mystery plants you have growing in your paddock or bushland for identification. If you would like to have something identified, bring along a specimen to the Watershed Landcare botanist/grazier Christine McRae. If possible, bring a sample which has leaves, roots, stems, flowers, and seeds.

We will also have a selection of locally grown, native tube stock for sale, including: Kangaroo grass, Slender bamboo grass, White Box, Yellow box, Spotted Gum, Kurrajong, River She-oak, several ornamental grevilleas and lots more. Whether you are planning a large scale tree planting project or are just looking for a few specimens for the farm or garden, you’re sure to find something to meet your needs. Not sure what to plant where? Our friendly experts will be on hand to help you select the right plant for your location.

These events are supported by Watershed Landcare and are a part of the NSW Government’s Local Landcare Coordinators Initiative, supported through the partnership of Local Land Services and Landcare NSW.

Landcare lectures at the Field Days

The Mudgee Small Farm Field Days are on again on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 July at the Australian Rural Education Centre (AREC). The Field Days aim to promote innovation and information on farming, particularly for small acreages, with demonstrations, workshops, livestock exhibits and thousands of products on display. This is a unique opportunity to talk face-to-face with a multitude of exhibitors, all in the one place.

Watershed Landcare, supported by AREC, will feature lectures on a variety of subjects in the Straw Bale Building (L8).

Regenerative Agriculture has been getting a lot of press recently. Come along and find out the why and how from local farmer and agricultural innovator, Colin Seis. Colin’s talk will be held at 10am on Friday and 1:30pm on Saturday and will cover how many of the challenges created by industrialised agriculture are being addressed with the adoption of innovative agricultural techniques, that are showing better ways of producing food and grazing animals.

Over the last two years the Kandos School of Cultural Adaptation has been working with regenerative farmers, scientists and aboriginal caretakers across NSW on a project to raise awareness of regenerative agriculture and to engender conversations about it with audiences that bridge the rural – urban divide. Three members of the group will present on various aspects of the project; ‘Art and the Changing Culture of Agriculture’ will be held at 1:30pm on Friday.

Sarah Curry is a 5th generation farmer, agronomist and passionate gardener with a strong belief that healthy gardens and produce come from healthy productive soils. Come along and gain an understanding of the key elements of healthy soils and how to overcome common problems to boost your gardens health and production. ‘Healthy Soils = Healthy Plants’ will be held at 11:30am on Friday and Saturday.

Find out how basic permaculture design principles can increase productivity and efficiency. Karren Lewis, Green Gully Creek Farm, will present ‘Planning Your Property Using Permaculture’ at 3pm on Friday.

Uschi Rowlands, Gourmet Mushrooms of Mudgee, will provide an overview of the Fungi Kingdom, some of their fascinating traits, and a look at how mushrooms are grown. Fascinating Fungi will be held at 10am on Saturday.

Tamara Bowman will teach you about local plants and share gardening tips that will attract birds and bees to your backyard. ‘Birds and the bees’ will be held at 3pm on Saturday.

We will have also have plenty of information and displays at the Waterwise Garden demonstration site, locally grown, native tube stock for sale, and, of course, our beautiful display garden of waterwise and salt tolerant plants for the Mudgee district.

Or just drop by for a chat with other Watershed Landcare members, thaw out by our fire and find out what we do, how to get involved in our projects and become a member.

These events are supported by Watershed Landcare and are a part of the NSW Government’s Local Landcare Coordinators Initiative, supported through the partnership of Local Land Services and Landcare NSW.