2005 — a record year

The year behind us was one of our best. We propagated and planted more seedlings, constructed more fencing, restored more habitat sites, protected more fertile creek flats, and even enhanced 2 significant wetlands.

And our support base broadened as well, to include more landholders, more schools, more community groups, and several new sponsors. The facts speak for themselves:

• 30 landholders involved
• 35 sites protected
• 95 hectares of habitat restored
• 19½ km of fencing
• 45,400 seedlings planted
• 9 natural regeneration trial sites
• 2 big ecological burnoffs

spring planting season

The 2005 spring planting season was a great success. Good winter rains gave us a grand opportunity to make this the most productive season yet.

13th and 14th August: planting weekend. The first planting weekend for the 2005 season saw us off to a great start, with a grand total of exactly 4500 seedlings planted by a large and enthusiastic team of volunteers. You can read more about it and contribute your own experiences and pictures at the interactive BIRD page.

27th and 28th August: planting weekend. Details on BIRD.

3rd and 4th September: bird survey. With the help of Birds Australia Victoria, we surveyed bird populations of all the major remnants in Lurg, key roadsides, and scores of planting sites. Timed to coincide with National Threatened Species Day, the survey will provide vital data to help us evaluate how successful our work really is. See the BIRD page for all the details and lots of pictures!

10th and 11th September: planting weekend.

24th and 25th September: planting weekend. Read all about it here.

community input

The extra oomph from outside groups makes this level of action possible. Input from visitors added up to:

• 16 community planting days
• 470 volunteers involved
• 25,000 seedlings planted
• 174 nest boxes monitored on 45 farms & 20 roadsides
• 21 new nest boxes placed

input from schools

And the young people from 23 local schools made an astonishing contribution as well.

• 1460 students assisted with the propagation
• 50,000 seedlings propagated
• 35 school planting days
• 834 students involved
• 16,000 seedlings planted
• 40 new nest boxes built by students at Benalla West P.S.
• 24 new nest boxes built by students at Galen College

We are very fortunate to have such strong support from many quarters, and look forward to working with you all again this year!

broader environmental benefits

Our prime focus is habitat for rare species, but it's worth pointing out the wider environmental benefits:

• greenhouse gas absorption
• reduced salinity
• sustainable landuse
• reduced erosion on streams
• improved water quality
• restored ecological balances
• lowered water tables
• natural pest controls
• better stock shelter