Releaf December 2013

Growing inside Adelaide Women’s Prison

Corporate BATs gaining momentum

Native bees will help curb impact of Varroa mite

Summer 2013 Issue 129

Contact usReLeaf is a production of Trees For Life.

Editorial/Advertising: Tania Kearney (ph: 8406 0500 or [email protected]) Production/Graphic Design: IS Design & Digital Printing: Finsbury Green

Want to advertise?Advertising space is now available in ReLeaf. Phone 8406 0500 or email [email protected] for advertising rates.

Cover Photo: Narrow-leaved Waxflower (Philotheca angustifolia) by Peter Watton.

Trees For Life5 May Tce, Brooklyn Park 5032 Ph: 8406 0500 Fax: 8406 0599 [email protected] www.treesforlife.org.au

What’s on…Now Growing season

underway

Dec 4 TFL Members Christmas Party @ Brooklyn Park

Dec 18 BFL/BAT Christmas Picnic @ South Parklands

Dec 20 TFL office closes for Christmas break (5pm)

Jan 2 TFL office reopens for 2014

Jan 16 Seed Collection Workshop @ Belair NP

Feb 5 Summer BAT program starts

Feb 12 BAT activity

Feb 15 Intro bush regen w-shop @ Brooklyn Park

Feb 15–26 BAT activities

March 5 BAT activity



March 18 Intro bush regen w-shop @ Mt Barker



For more information or bookings phone Trees For Life on (08) 8406 0500.

General NewsPresident’s Message

Our thanks to solar panels sponsor, Green Switch.

Solar readings

TFL strong enough to tackle future challenges

The following is extracted from this year’s annual report. I’d like to think it’s worth repeating and in doing so, on behalf of all at TFL, wish you and your

loved ones a merry Christmas and best wishes for the coming year.

“Trees For Life remains in good shape and as long as we guard against complacency we can look forward optimistically. As indicated last year, times are tough with increasing competition for the discretionary dollar. Income from subscriptions and fundraising continues to fall short of budget which is a matter of special concern to the Board. This is more, however, than a revenue issue and represents an erosion of our membership base which we need to fix. This is not peculiar to Trees For Life, of course, but part of a universal trend threatening the viability of many community organisations. We must, therefore, continue to find fresh approaches to keep our membership strong and our revenue stream healthy. Despite these challenges, our organisation remains robust, well-staffed and repeatedly able to find practical ways to fulfil its objectives.

“Key to our success over the years has been consistency of vision, outstanding and quality staff, loyal volunteers and generous supporters. As times change, however, it’s critical that we review our fundamental purpose and the methods we employ to reach our objectives. Rigorous strategic planning is essential to our survival in an increasingly competitive and hostile environment. Many of the challenges faced are socio-political and not necessarily concerned with biodiversity, species loss or climate change. Our people, members and volunteers, growers and landowners, farmers and city dwellers, supporters and sponsors, are critical contributors and what differentiates Trees For Life from most competitors and other environmental organisations.

“Trees For Life is about people and communities almost as much as it is about revegetation and remnant habitat and we need to get our strategic balance right. This continues to be a work in progress. In terms of day-to-day governance it is my firm belief that the organisation continues to be well-served by the Board and receives strong support and professional advice from our CEO Greg Boundy, who joined us in November last year following the retirement of Carmel Dundon. I paid tribute to Carmel in last year’s annual report and now put on the record how pleased we have been with the performance of Greg and the relatively seamless manner in which he has taken over the management reins of the organisation; backed by great staff this is a winning combination.

“Our success would not be possible, however, without the membership. It is our members, volunteers and supporters who remain the backbone of this great organisation and keep us grounded and motivated. These are difficult and challenging times requiring bold and responsible solutions and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. The environmental policies pursued by our political leaders at both the state and federal level could have a significant effect on our operations but I believe Trees For Life is well-positioned and robust enough to survive and prosper whatever decisions are made.”

DAVID MITCHELL AM

Office closure during Christmas time

The Trees For Life office and Betty Westwood Nursery will be closed during the Christmas break from

5pm Friday, December 20, reopening Thursday, January 2, 2014.

Management and staff of TFL wish all members and volunteers a safe and happy Christmas and New Year. We thank you all for your continued support in 2013 and look forward to your company in 2014.

The Adelaide Convention Centre’s management and staff again showed how seriously they take their environmental and corporate social responsibility by attending their fourth annual planting day with Trees For Life - even donning specially made t-shirts for the occasion this time! The ACC crew planted 500 seedlings at the Ngeringa biodynamic vineyard in Mt Barker Springs.

2012-13 a year of growth and changeGREG BOUNDY

Passion, commitment, humility, capability and capacity were all qualities that I expected to see

evidenced when commencing my role at Trees For Life - and they have all been delivered in spades!

Throughout the year we implemented a number of new and ongoing projects including:-• The Integrated Restoration Pilot

is halfway through its five year life and the project continues to develop an integrated approach to on-ground biodiversity across a number of landholders’ properties in the Adelaide Hills.

• We upgraded a majority of our IT desktop hardware to a uniform platform across the organisation. Thank you to IT specialists Caramel in implementing this for us.

• Design specialists IS Design & Digital carried out a free consultancy reviewing marketing and branding issues for Trees For Life. We will utilise the organisation’s expertise and recommendations in implementing a number of improvements in this area.

• The new website was up and running in late 2012.

• Trees For Life has been finalising the development of a new database system and has commenced its implementation

• We have taken major steps with the Farnill property through a long-term management plan as the basis for ongoing site activity.

Strategic challengesTrees For Life continues to address (several) challenges in our planning for the future.

These challenges are being addressed by Trees For Life in the constantly evolving world that we operate in. While we have a solid foundation, it is how we build upon that from here that will ensure our success in improving the environment for many years to come. The staff are committed to this course of action and addressing these challenges.

This is an excerpt of CEO Greg Boundy’s article in Trees For Life’s 2012-13 Annual Report. The full version can be read on TFL’s website www.treesforlife.org.au

Wonderful statistics

Tree Scheme: During the last financial year 1058 landholders ordered plants through our Tree

Scheme. Of those, 434 landholders grew their own and 624 asked for a volunteer grower. Propagation supplies were distributed through the statewide network of 48 depots, all run by volunteer depot managers. 1500 combinations of species were raised throughout the 42 zones.

Bush For Life: During the 2012-13 year 764 volunteers carried out works on 319 Bush For Life sites (4111 hectares), equating to 34,077 hours. 166 community members were trained through workshops, with 59 going on to advanced training. Bush Action Teams undertook 5149 hours of volunteer work.

Trees For Life Summer 2013 Number 1291 2

General News General News

Growing a great future is the goal of the State Government’s SA Urban Forests Million Trees Program, which is dedicated to planting three million local native trees and associated understorey across metropolitan Adelaide by 2014.

Volunteering grows inside Adelaide Women’s PrisonTANIA KEARNEY

A passion for Trees For Life is growing at the Adelaide Women’s Prison – and it’s

enriching the lives of many women. The prison’s Building Services

Officer Eric Powles first thought about integrating Trees For Life’s volunteer growing program into the extra curricula activities about five years ago. He had a friend who was a volunteer grower and decided it might be a worthwhile project for women detainees to get involved in.

Their first ‘official’ growing year was in 2009 and they ordered five sets of propagation materials from Trees For Life to see how they’d cope. This year they’ve ordered 20 kits!

Although not a formal rehabilitation program within the Adelaide Women’s Prison services, both Eric and colleague Sarah Hackett say each year two women are allocated to the growing program.

“We take into account a range of factors such as whether their personalities would be suited to growing and looking after the seedlings, whether they’re low risk prisoners and a few other things,” Sarah said.

“The last growing season was probably our greatest success,” she said, “because we had one inmate in particular who just thrived on doing this work. She even decided to keep a diary so she could record the progress of the seedlings; we’ve kept a copy of it for future reference.”

The participating women follow the growing season right through, from filling the tubes, sowing the seeds, caring for them and then planting them out.

“It’s not just a hobby we give them,” Eric said. “It’s a proper job description; they get paid for it and they have to follow the guidelines we set for them.”

By formulating it as a proper job, Eric said it counts towards their rehabilitation and integration back into society. Prison management is also fully supportive of the program.

“We act like referees if you like. If they go off on home detention and eventually want to look for work,

we can vouch for them and say that they’ve been committed to growing and looking after this program for several months,” Eric said.

Sarah has been particularly involved with the women’s growing program in the past 12 months, taking over from Eric as he helps oversee new on-site construction. Sarah’s enthusiasm has grown alongside the women’s, even attending a Trees For Life seed collection workshop earlier this year.

Collecting seed“It’s been really interesting for me as well and I’ve been able to pass on some knowledge to the girls. I’ve started training the girls to reseed so we go and collect seed off some of the existing trees and bushes here and try to grow them ourselves.”

The native seedlings propagated at the Adelaide Women’s Prison are grown solely for planting within the prison grounds.

Eric and Sarah follow the Trees For Life species guidelines in terms of provenance, but also have to take into account security.

“We can’t have any trees or big bushes because of security issues and the cameras … so we have to look at smaller bushes and grasses,” Sarah said. “When we get the seed

we explain everything to the girls as in what they’ll look like and just a bit more about the species we’ve chosen.”

Such is their enthusiasm for, and commitment to the program over the years, Eric also had a purpose-built shadehouse constructed near the minimum security housing and vegetable garden (which some of the women also tend).

Beds for benchesTheir propagation benches are made out of old and disused prisoner beds.

“We don’t get any funding for this program so we make do with what we can. It all seems to work well though and we’ve got a pretty good setup now,” he said.

And while some of their hard work has been destroyed recently, with plants being removed due to new construction work, Eric and Sarah say they’re looking forward to the next round of growing and planting.

“This work will probably be finished around December and then we can start planning what new plants to put in what areas and around the different perimeters. There are a couple of new units that we’d like to plant up and hopefully we’ll get it all looking really beautiful again soon.”

Maintenance-Grounds Officer Sarah Hackett and Building Services Officer Eric Powles, inside the hothouse which was purpose-built to raise the seedlings.

Are mistletoes misunderstood?BRETT OAKES

Mistletoes. Some see them as a benign addition to the bush landscape, and others

view them as a devilish plague that needs removal. These native plants however, form some of the strangest and most fragile relationships in the environment.

Mistletoes themselves are comprised of several genera and species, of which the most common in the Adelaide Hills and Plains are Amyema miquelii, Amyema preissii and Lysiana exocarpi, the Box, Wire-leaf and Harlequin mistletoes. These mistletoes are host-specific, with Box Mistletoe growing on eucalypts, Wire-leaf on mainly wattles, and Harlequin growing on other parasitic plants, such as native cherry, quandong, and other mistletoes.

While mistletoes are classed as parasitic in nature, under natural conditions they are not as detrimental as you might think to their hosts. They only take water and minerals from the host tree, doing their own photosynthesis, and their fruit and flowers feed many birds and insects which keep pollinators close to the hosts, ready for its own flowering. One of the more interesting and important benefits that mistletoes provide, however, is by acting as a host plant for members of the Ogyris butterfly genus. These butterflies, which are iridescent blue, are heavily dependent on the mistletoes because as caterpillars, they can eat nothing else but mistletoe leaves.

So if you happen to have a mistletoe propagate in your garden, consider leaving it. The benefits they provide can far outweigh any short-term detriment.

Achievements lead to long-term improvements

This article marks the end of another successful planting and sowing season for the SA

Urban Forests – Million Trees Program as we move closer to achieving our overall goal of establishing three million plants by 2014. It is also an opportunity to reflect on some highlights of the winter season.

One highlight was the completion of the Caring for Our Country (CfOC) Grey Box Grassy Woodland project that achieved a major impact on key threats to this nationally listed ecological community across 26 reserves. Seven partners managed the project including the Cities of Burnside, Mitcham and Onkaparinga, SA Water, University of Adelaide, National Trust SA and Natural Resources Adelaide & Mount Lofty Ranges, Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR).

We continued to develop our in-house capacity for delivering projects on the ground with the fourth season of our restoration works crew (comprising members of DEWNR seasonal fire crew). In addition to establishing seedlings the team has supported a range of activities from assisting with Grey Box Day, helping at community planting events including National Tree Day, fencing to create kangaroo exclosures, controlling weeds and even undertaking control burns at some restoration sites.

An exciting development currently is the exploration of the BushRAT methodology and how it might be used to assist in monitoring revegetation alongside the restoration

of more intact vegetation.As we approach the final target

of achieving three million plants next year it is very encouraging and exciting to see the improvements that have been made on the ground, from local school bush gardens and local council amenity projects to large-scale habitat reconstruction projects. When these physical changes are complemented by changes in our knowledge, attitudes and behaviours it’s a clear sign that we are helping to create both better habitats and a stronger ethos and greater capacity to care for our natural environment.

A Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) woodland restoration site at Onkaparinga River National Park 2006-2011.

Box Mistletoe flowers.


Tree Scheme Tree Scheme

New TS manager excited to be at TFLIAN LETT

I am very excited to have joined Trees For Life as

the Tree Scheme Manager.

I believe this is such a critical time to be addressing environmental issues. And there is no bigger environmental issue in my view than biodiversity. I’m looking forward to working with you to increase the biodiversity in South Australia.

I’ll give you a brief summary of my background: I spent two years working on Organic Farms in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania before studying horticulture at the University of Western Sydney - majoring in plant production and post harvest technologies. I did my major thesis on biological control of weeds, specifically Lantana camara and Paterson’s curse/Salvation Jane.

After graduation I worked on labour market programs LEAP and SkillShare, training young people in seed collection, propagation, revegetation and weed control in Central West NSW. I did further studies in bush regeneration and conservation and land management and led a bush regeneration team in the Blue Mountains. I then worked with Blue Mountains City Council as Green Team Coordinator, focusing on fire mitigation, bushcare, bush regeneration, noxious weeds and walking tracks. The bushcare program was the largest in NSW with over 70 bushcare and landcare groups and 600+ volunteers. Since then I have worked with an energy management consultancy in Sydney, and managed the Blacktown Solar City Program.

My wife and I moved to Adelaide in February 2011, at which time I started an energy services company and worked with householders and businesses to reduce their energy demand. Then I successfully applied for the Tree Scheme Manager position!

I look forward to meeting volunteers and landholders, and particularly want to meet members in regional areas. See you in the backyard, or in the paddock.

What happened to the trees I grew?IAN LETT

For more than 30 years South Australians have been growing trees for landholders to revegetate

their properties. For more than 30 years landholders and community groups have ordered these trees, received them from growers and planted them.

More than one grower has wondered, “What happened to my trees?”

Landholders love to tell us how their trees are going. And for years we have been getting that feedback through our landholder survey. This year we have had some fantastic responses, such as one from a landholder near Gawler when asked about their revegetation work: “It’s adding to the appeal of (the) homestead as a tourism destination”.

One of the questions we ask in the survey is what percentage of trees survived after planting. Last year’s hot dry summer was hard on new plantings and consequently many growers reported a lower survival rate than the average rate for previous years. Variations in conditions across the state led to a range of 20-90% survival for the 2012-13 season compared to an average rate from

Mt Torrens landholder Monique Blason and her son inspect some of the revegetation undertaken through Trees For Life on their property.

Grower workshops well received

Each year during October and November Trees For Life presents free grower workshops for all TFL

growers in preparation for the growing season which starts late November.

The workshops are attended by members who are either volunteering or growing seedlings for themselves and range from first-time growers to experienced and long-term growers.

This year 15 workshops were scheduled with 128 people attending in total.

The practical, small group workshops are continually popular with participants always feeding back especially positive comments on how informative and enjoyable the workshops are. Some feedback from this year includes: “It was well worthwhile!” from a grower for more than 10 years. A grower for 16 years said “It was an interesting and thoroughly useful session,” while a new grower commented, “I can’t wait to get started!”

Other comments included: “A good mix of practical work and theory”, “An excellent presentation and great atmosphere”, “Many helpful hints and all questions answered”. Another seasoned grower said “The information and practical experience was valuable and relevant. I learned new tips which will assist with this year’s growing”.

previous seasons of 60-90%.Small seedlings are vulnerable, not

only to a lack of rain, but to many other hazards. Some mentioned by landholders include kangaroos, lightning, spray drift, mowing, bushfire and “insane wind”.

We will be collating and analysing the survey responses in the next few months, so look for a full report in future editions of ReLeaf.

Introducing ... TFL Growing Kits!

Did you miss out on ordering this year? Are you interested in growing your own seedlings?

If you missed out on the Tree Scheme ordering season this year, it’s not too late to get your hands on all the required materials to grow your own seedlings.

Trees For Life is now offering materials outside of the Tree Scheme ordering season to cater for those people who missed out or would like to order only a small amount to grow.

Each kit will provide you with all the materials necessary to raise approximately 50 native seedlings, including 1 x box of native potting mix, 1 x packet of soft plastic tubes, 1 x packet of fertiliser, 1 x packet of

gravel mulch, 1 x packet of indigenous seed (some notice needed if different seed is required). You’ll also receive a Grower’s Handbook with instructions on how to grow native seedlings and as a TFL member you’ll have access to phone support and eligibility to attend a growers workshop.

TFL Growing Kits are only available for purchase by Trees For Life financial members (individual/family membership costs $45 per year, or a Group or School membership is $75). Kits are $16.50 each and are available for pick-up only from the TFL nursery between November 30 and March 31, are subject to availability and must be ordered and paid for in advance of collection.

If you’d like to order a TFL Growing Kit please contact the office on 8406 0500 or email [email protected] to arrange.

Planting help is available

The Fleurieu Trees For Life’s Volunteer Tree Planting Team works on sites on the Fleurieu

Peninsula, from the South Eastern Freeway to Cape Jervois and Callington to Yankalilla.

If your planting site is in this area then we may be able to help you. Contact Bunti Pellen, Trees For Life’s Volunteer Planting Coordinator, from January 2014 to organise a time. The team plants from May to September. It is essential to book early as in previous years it has been extremely popular and places are limited. Phone Bunti on (08) 7329 2889 or 0429 016 335 or email [email protected] (please don’t call after 7pm Sunday–Thursday).

Trees For Life NurseryBrooklyn Park, SA

Wholesale tubestock, local provenance, professionally grown

Order quality seedlings for bulk or specialised projects. Choose from our provenance species lists

or we can collect and grow seed and cuttings to order. Minimum order 1000 seedlings.

Phone (08) 8406 0500 [email protected]


Bush For Life Bush For Life

Groups interact with BFL and nature

This year we have been privileged to run some half-day bushcare activities (mini Bush Action

Teams) with some really beautiful people from Bedford Industries and Hamilton High Disability Unit (part of Hamilton Secondary College).

The volunteers from Bedford Industries, along with Bedford staff, have so far participated in activities at Karinya Reserve, Eden Hills and at Waterfall Creek, Hallett Cove. At both sites they have worked on Scabious - a very pervasive perennial herb that invades native grasslands. At Hallett Cove the team has made a great impact on the infestation that was threating a beautiful patch of Spear Grass (Austrostipa spp.).

The students and staff from Hamilton High have participated in eight activities shared between two Bush For Life sites - Southport dunes, Port Noarlunga and Waterfall Creek, Hallett Cove.

At Southport Dunes the Hamilton High team has been working on a weed front of Pyp Grass (Ehrharta villosa) using the cut and swab method. While at Hallett Cove they have been working on a Scabious weed front in a different location to the Bedford Industries group.

Both teams have been returning to the same weed fronts on each activity so they can see the results of their work from the last visit. The volunteers have had a chance to learn new skills in bush regeneration including working along a weed front, cutting and swabbing as well as gaining experience in doing community volunteer work.

During the activities the volunteers have experienced the beauty and healing nature of being in the bush. While out in the elements they have observed frogs, skinks, baby snakes, a variety of native birds, butterflies, spiders which really adds to their experience of volunteering.

(Trees For Life’s work with Bedford Industries in 2013-14 is being supported through an Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board Community Action Grant.)

Corporate BATs ... get your workplace to be part of the fun!

Over the past couple of years we have been hosting more and more corporate groups on Bush

Action Team (BAT) days. Many workplaces have a policy of

corporate social and environmental responsibility and enable groups of their workers to participate in volunteer events one or two days a year.

Bush Action Team days are perfectly suited to this as we provide a ready-made opportunity; we provide the supervision, on-site training, tools and equipment, and can even provide transport in our BAT Bus to one of our Bush For Life sites. Corporate groups can participate in a one-day bushcare

activity safe in the knowledge they are in good hands and their efforts are contributing to conservation of our precious bushland.

Not only do these days help our environment but they are great team building exercises. Which would you prefer to do – go on a pointless team building day or get out in the bush and do some real good?

Congratulations to the folks at corporations such as Optus, Finsbury, Minter Ellison, Capgemini and many more whose teams have taken part recently.

We have promotional materials available describing the opportunities for you to promote in your workplace. If you think your workplace would like to get involved please contact Emma on 8406 0542 or [email protected]

Workshop dates for early 2014

If you would like to learn more about minimal disturbance bush regeneration, becoming a Bush For

Life volunteer or learning how to manage your own bushland, come along to an Introductory Workshop. Phone 8406 0500 to register or check out the ‘bushland’ pages of our website to find out more.• Saturday February 15

Brooklyn Park • Tuesday March 18 Mt Barker• Thursday April 17 Stirling

More dates for 2014 will be advertised in upcoming editions of ReLeaf.

2014 Summer BATsIn 2014 we will again be running a series of Summer Bush Action Team (BAT) activities. These will be on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout February and March.

A full list of dates will be sent to current bushcarers with our end of year questionnaire.

Call Randall for more information on 0407 606 578 or 8406 0500.

BFL end of year volunteer picnicWe extend an invitation to our end of year picnic lunch to ALL those who have volunteered with the Bush For Life program during 2013 (group activity attendees and site carers).

Come along at noon on Wednesday December 18 and let us say thanks! We will supply a delicious lunch and you can put your feet up under the gorgeous gums of the Adelaide South Parklands. Meet other volunteers, share stories and celebrate another successful year. Please RSVP to Emma by Thursday December 12 on 8406 0500 or email [email protected].

Second weed front makes a big impactMARK ELLIS

Following on in the footsteps of our inaugural Big Weed Front event last year, our second Annual Big

Weed Front, held at Karinya Reserve in Eden Hills on September 8, was a roaring success.

Nearly 100 bushcarers, both trusted regulars and new recruits took to the bush on this lovely Grey Box Woodland (Eucalyptus microcarpa) site. Teams guided by Bush For Life (BFL) regional coordinators tackled some nasty infestations of invasive weeds including Sparaxis, a bulbous weed and Desert Ash, an invasive pest of creek lines.

In the lead up to the event local regional coordinator Samantha Buxton Stewart liaised with Karinya’s dedicated bushcare volunteers to determine the best areas to work on. Supervising such a large group of volunteers and making sure they don’t trample the native vegetation was a challenge, but four weed fronts were identified to work on, being mainly outside the core areas where the site carers work.

The event brought together bushcarers from all over the Adelaide region. It was great to see people from northern, eastern and southern sites working together, sharing stories of their own bushcare experiences.

It was also heartening to see so many new faces at the Big Weed Front; some people trying bushcare for the first time, including the parents and youngsters from the Second Darlington Scouts and senior students from Mercedes College.

A parent and leader with the Second Darlington Scouts, Kerry Hazel, said the group had a great day.

“ … (and) we look forward to doing another community event with Trees For Life,” Kerry said. “I also wanted to say that Samantha, the leader of our group was such a joy to spend the day with. She was fantastic with the kids, taught them all something and made it fun,” Kerry said. We hope that this sort of event can enthuse more people to get involved in regular bushcare activities throughout the year such as Bush Action Team activities, or by adopting a bushcare site.

Above and left: Trees For Life’s second Annual Big Weed Front attracted nearly 100 participants from throughout Adelaide and surrounding regions.

The Capgemini staff before setting out on their corporate day, above, with regional coordinator Jennie Currie, far right, and out in the bushland, below.


TFL Works - TFL Carbon Feature Article

TFL Works: Professional Conservation and Revegetation

Services

Call us for 2013-14 quotes. Phone Matthew Endacott on (08) 8406 0500 or

email [email protected]

On-ground work - Bush regeneration, Roadside management, Fuel reduction,

Seed collection and PlantingManagement plans - Mapping, Data

recording, Recommendations

Orchids return after bridal eradication

SA Water contracted TFL Works recently to work on Bridal Creeper eradication on the Lafferty Road

Bush For Life site. The site was inundated with Bridal

Creeper at the start of the project, however with approximately 100 hours of work undertaken to protect the remnant bushland – including the removal of invasive weeds – it’s now looking amazing, with several orchid species on site.

As well as the Lafferty Road site, the TFL Works team was contracted to help eradicate Bridal Creeper and Bridal Veil on a Bush For Life site in Happy Valley Reservoir.

This work has complemented the hard work of volunteers and long-time bushcarers Penny Paton and Tom Bradley.

The Lafferty Road site in Clarendon, which is a BFL site owned by SA Water.

Carbon steward properties for sale

Two Trees For Life members who are hosting revegetation projects on their properties for our TFL Carbon

Program have listed them for sale.For different reasons it is

time to move on, and these two properties offer excellent and diverse opportunities for those seeking something special with an eye to environmental sustainability and a sense of sharing with nature.

MannumThe first property is located 4km from Mannum on the Purnong Road and is situated on 50 hectares of land. The house, and cliff-top behind, both afford a spectacular panorama of the River Murray and its lagoons and wetlands.

Behind the home atop the river cliffs are several rugged gullies supporting a wonderful variety of remnant vegetation. In 2008 and 2009, Trees For Life direct seeded 25 hectares of disused cropping land with local provenance seed. The

direct seeding was very successful overall with more than 20,000 plants of 18 varieties established to form a wonderful and dynamic bio-diverse area reflecting the dry-land habitat of the region.

BirdwoodThis beautiful property of 14 hectares is nestled among grape vines and remnant vegetation and has spectacular views across the Onkaparinga Valley.

The property hosts 6 hectares of direct seeding revegetation carried out in 2009. In the 4 years since, growth of the 13 high rainfall species has been excellent, with some reaching over 3m. An audit carried out in 2012 revealed more than 8000 trees and shrubs established, making for a wonderful bio-diverse area that buffers adjoining remnant vegetation above the property and along the old railway corridor.

For sales information on these properties and revegetation project reports see our Member Classifieds page http://www.treesforlife.org.au/member-classifieds

The two properties for sale - at Mannum, above, with beautiful views of the Murray River, and below, the rolling hills of Birdwood.

Native plants vital to increase native beesKATJA HOGENDOORN School of Agriculture, Food and Wine The University of Adelaide

A large number of native Australian plants rely on animal pollination. Nearly all of these

plants provide food to attract their pollinators: pollen and/or nectar. Among the animal pollinators are birds, such as honey eaters and rosellas, mammals such as pygmy possums and bats and, of course, insects. Among insects, native bees are arguably the most important pollinators of native plant species, because they depend fully on pollen and nectar: it is the only food they ever use for themselves and for their offspring.

It is estimated that there are about 2500 native bees in Australia, but so far only 75% of these are known to science. They are a highly diverse group, ranging in body length between 1.5 mm and 2.5 cm. Native bees have four wings and six legs. They come in all colours of the rainbow and have specialised branched hairs to carry pollen. They also vary in their choices of plants and in their nesting behaviour.

Apart from the social stingless bees, which only occur in the northern half of Australia, native bees do not produce honey.

Inside the nest, females of most species make small rooms, or ‘cells’, in which they place a mix of pollen and nectar. Many of the abundant spring flowers, such as several pea species, fringe, flax and chocolate lilies, velvet bushes, grass lilies, and the blue sun orchids that mimic the latter, rely on bees for their seed production. Their flowering is tuned to the timing of spring emergence of their pollinators. Similarly, summer flowering pea species often rely on resin bee species that are active during that period of the year. A lack of seed production in any of these plant species may indicate a lack of pollinators.

Native bees also have a share in crop pollination. The most well-known crop pollinator is the honeybee - introduced in the 1820s. Helped by the mild winters and high abundance of nectar rich plants, the species

quickly became feral. These days, feral honeybees occur at high densities in the main cropping areas and provide the majority of our crop pollination needs, which are valued at A$1,700 million per annum.

The free pollination by feral honeybees will disappear after the expected incursion of the Varroa mite into Australia. The Varroa mite is a highly invasive parasitic mite of honeybees, that is found everywhere in the world except in Australia. The mite has already decimated feral honeybee colonies in temperate and Mediterranean climates.

Major impactThe loss of feral honeybees will have a major impact on the quality and quantity of pollination dependent crops, such as apples, pears, strawberry, rock melon, almond, lucerne, watermelon and zucchini. The beekeeping industry is currently too small to fill the expected gap in pollination services. Luckily, several native bee species also provide crop pollination services and they will not be affected by the Varroa mite. They may not fully replace the services of feral honeybees, but they can certainly contribute to curb the expected pollination deficit, in particular when action is undertaken to enhance their presence in the crop environment. Our general understanding of the crop pollinating species, their foraging needs and nesting sites is currently growing. One of the important insights is that there is a profound difference

in the foraging radius between native bees and honeybees. Honeybees can forage in a radius of 5km while native bees generally forage in a range of 300m or less around their nest.

This means that, for native bees to exist in the crop environment, they need to be able to find food in their home range.

Smart plantingThrough smart planting and revegetation of road verges and boundaries, free crop pollination by native bees can be enhanced.

Suitable food plants include a variety of local native Fabaceae (ie wattles etc) and Myrtaceae (ie. eucalypts etc) with a range of different flowering times. An important addition to this can be provided by planting some bushes that produce nectar during the hot summer months such as Christmas bush and stripy mint bush.

Regarding nesting opportunities, many crop pollinating native bee species nest in the soil, while other bee species nest in dead sticks, twigs, in crevices and dead wood, often finding their nesting sites in native vegetation surrounding the crops.

To find out more about native bees in general, visit http://www.aussiebee.com.au/. To know more about nesting substrate for native bees you can Google ‘bee hotels’ or download a guide http://mrccc.org.au/downloads/links/BEE%20WALL%20and%20HABITAT%20-%205%20page.pdf.

Nests of furrow bees can often be found in paddocks and many females can share a nest. This nest of the common furrow bee Lasioglossum mu was found in a cabbage patch. It had more than 30 reproducing females. Through their activity underground, the bees increase soil aeration, enhance water uptake and incorporate organic matter into the soil. Photo: Lea Hannah.


Glasses + wine offer for just $20!

If you’re looking for a unique Christmas

gift this year – and one that also helps the environment – jump onto the Trees For Life website and see our range of gift ideas.

We have everything from clothing, stubby holders and books to baby rompers, greeting cards, the 2014 calendar and Gift of Trees certificates.

As a special Christmas gift idea, we’re selling boxes of 6 Trees For Life wine glasses AND a beautiful bottle of Geoff Weaver Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc wine for just $20! Stocks are limited however and the glasses must be collected from our office in Brooklyn Park.

For more information phone (08) 8406 0500 or log onto www.treesforlife.org.au

2014 Intro bush regen workshops (B1)

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer on one of our Bush For Life sites or would like to learn more about managing your own bushland then come along to an Introductory Bush Regeneration Workshop. Phone

8406 0500 to register for workshops.

Saturday February 15 Brooklyn Park

Tuesday March 18 Mt Barker

Thursday April 17 Stirling

2014 seed collection workshop (SC1)Thursday January 16 Belair NP

Workshop will be held in the Long Gully Volunteer Centre from 9am. For more information phone Seedbank Manager Bruce Smith on (08) 8406 0500.

Seed collectors: Trees For Life seed collection permits for 2014 have been renewed recently. Please contact Bruce if you would like your old permit renewed but have not yet received anything.

For Members For Members

All this could be yours! Well, for two nights anyway! This picturesque outlook is from Lifetime Private Retreats on Kangaroo Island, which is 3rd prize in our annual TFL Lottery. The lottery is on sale now and will be drawn February 7, 2014.

Luxurious retreats up for grabs in lottery

Tickets are now available in Trees For Life’s annual lottery, with 54 prizes worth more than $24,000 –

including $10,000 cash – on offer.The lottery is our main fundraiser

and last year helped raise more than $70,000 to support TFL’s on-going environmental programs.

We are hopeful this year’s lottery will be as successful, and thank all businesses and individuals involved in donating prizes.

We are again offering a $10,000 cash first prize. Second prize is installation and maintenance of a 1x3 metre raised garden bed from Vital Veggies worth $1200, with third prize two nights accommodation on Kangaroo Island at Lifetime Private Retreats, worth $900.

Other prizes include products from Kathmandu, two nights at Authenticity Spa Resort in Port Elliott, accommodation with dinner at the Birdsville and Innamincka hotels, a B&B stay at Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary and 4WD Ridgetop tour, a $500 gift voucher from JA Grigson, double magnum (3 litres) of 2004 Reserve Shiraz from Fox Creek Wines, accommodation at Clare Valley Cabins, books from Neville Bonney, family passes to Monarto and Adelaide zoos, Gro-wall kit from Green

Cities, termite inspection, worm farm, gift hamper from Alexandrina Cheese Company, GUESS sunglasses from Health Partners Optical and lots more.

As an added incentive, those who sell lottery books this year will have a chance of winning $200 cash and two nights accommodation at Rattleys B&B at Pear Tree Hollow in Inman Valley.

The lottery tickets are just $2 and can be bought from TFL members or the TFL office. If you would like to sell some tickets, or want to purchase tickets, phone us on 8406 0500. The lottery will be drawn on February 7, 2014.

Tube-filling time

Tube-filling time is with us once again. If you’re interested in finding an

easier solution to filling the soft tubes, long-term TFL member and volunteer Trevor Bright has developed a device which may help.

It saves a lot of time and effort, with a box of well-filled tubes only taking about 30 minutes to complete. The unit comes with a funnel, stand, measuring cup and plunger, for $25.

For more information phone Trevor on 0407 181 723 or email [email protected]

Volunteer Karen Shelton, who sadly passed away in August.

Tree planting in Karen’s memory BUNTI PELLEN TFL Volunteer Planting Coordinator

It is with a heavy heart I report that we lost Karen Shelton, one of our most valued tree planting

volunteers, in August this year. Karen attended almost every tree

planting since she joined our group and was always a pleasure to be around. At our last planting for the year we dedicated the day to Karen’s memory. Over lunch we looked through some wonderful photos that Karen had taken of the team the last time we had all been together. She was known for her keen interest in photography and always stayed back after planting to take photos. Karen, we will miss you and remember you fondly on future tree planting days. Condolences go to her family and friends.

The Fleurieu volunteer group, after dedicating their last planting in Karen’s honour.

Harrogate, Banrock signs promote TFL

Trees For Life has established a new interpretive sign at the Harrogate Reserve.

Organised by Bush For Life regional coordinator Angela Cullen through a grant from the SA Murray Darling Basin NRM and Mt Barker Council, the interpretive sign educates visitors about Red Gum Grassy woodland.

“Harrogate reserve is a precious example of grassy woodlands that once dominated the landscape of the eastern Mt Lofty Ranges.

“The rehabilitation of this grassy woodland by encouraging natural regeneration of local understorey plants helps create a vital pocket of habitat essential for the survival of threatened flora and fauna and provides and invaluable link for fauna to other habitats on private land reserves and roadside.”

Well done to Angela and Paul Cullen, who did the design work and installation.

Banrock StationMeanwhile, Banrock Station’s wetlands being artificially flooded this year has received world-wide attention. And we’re proud to say Trees For Life is playing a role in the wetlands restoration.

Signs are now in place along walking trails throughout the Kingston-on-Murray property stating

Trees For Life has been part of a Black Box woodland restoration project. Local school students, Berri Estates and Banrock staff planted more than 2000 seedlings around the property this year, grown from seeds collected from Banrock itself and provided by Trees For Life!

The Harrogate Reserve interpretive sign, above, and below, one of the new signs in place along walking trails within the Banrock Station wetlands area.


DisclaimerTrees For Life takes no responsibility for the services or products featured in its quarterly magazine, ReLeaf.

Find us on:

Perpetual Sponsor

Sponsors and Supporters Service Directory

Trees For Life

Trees For Life, 5 May Tce, Brooklyn Park 5032Ph: (08) 8406 0500 Fax: (08) 8406 [email protected]

Trees For Life Board

President: David MitchellTreasurer: Hanne DamgaardSecretary: Nathan DaniellBoard Members: David Grybowski, Meera Verma, Megan Antcliff, Natasha Davis, Warren Hilton and Jim Humphrys

Trees For Life Contacts

Chief Executive Officer: Greg BoundyOffice Manager: Lisa AdamsTree Scheme Manager: Ian LettBush For Life Manager: Mark EllisDirect Seeding Manager: David HeinTFL Works Manager: Matthew EndacottTFL Carbon Manager: Dennis HaylesSeedbank Manager: Bruce SmithSponsorship Manager: Glenys Perri

Trees For Life Rural

Gawler: Sylvia Nieuwenhuizen 8406 8419Noarlunga: Graham Greaves 8386 1018Willunga: Julie Turner 8556 2401; Paul Rosser 8557 7483Mt Gambier: Briony Schleuniger 8724 9759Mt Pleasant: Ruth Charlesworth 8524 6661Clare: Dean Schubert 8843 4317Strathalbyn: Jo & Sue Scheiffers 8536 8053

Trees For Life fee based services by our professional staff

For government, business and private landholders:

• Bushlandmanagement• Fuelreductioncontrol• Roadsidevegetationmanagement• Woodyweedcontrol• Bulkseedcollection• Revegetationandbushlandbuffering• Tubestockplanting• Tubestockgrowntoorder• Directseedingusinglocally

collected seed• Sitevisitsandlandmanagementadvice

Call TFL on (08) 8406 0500 to arrange a quote

Trees For Life’s IT Manager is:

TFL sponsorship gives personal satisfaction

Earth Greetings Founder and Director Heide Hackworth has been a Red Gum supporter of

Trees For Life for the past six years.Heide said since starting Earth

Greetings in 2003, her aim has been to design paper goods that are ‘kind’ to the environment.

“Even though we use 100% post-consumer recycled paper and green printing with vegetable based ink, this still amounts to a lot of water and energy use,” she said.

“Additionally just by being in business, we use electricity, fuel for freight and there is embedded energy in the technology we use. Though we do recycle wherever possible and offset our carbon emissions, it’s important to me to go one step further and be able to contribute toward something positive that gives back to nature and the planet.

“Donating to Trees For Life is the perfect way for us to give back to nature. I truly believe in the grassroots action of native tree planting to restore our planet in mitigating Co2, providing homes for wildlife and

preventing soil erosion. “Through our ‘Every Pack Plants A

Tree’ Christmas cards, it’s fantastic to know Trees For Life will be enabled to plant a tree seedling for every pack we sell. It gives me a great deal of personal satisfaction knowing that through our partnership with Trees For Life we have contributed to a positive difference to the planet.”

Thanks so much Heide. We’re very proud to be associated with such a caring company!

Earth Greetings Founder and Director Heide Hackworth.

LUKE Electrical – looking to the future

LUKE Electrical is a new Red Gum sponsor with Trees For Life.

Owner Luke Frankham says he supports organisations like TFL because it produces local results that can be seen straight away and will last for generations to come.

“Much of the work is done by volunteers who have nothing to gain except a feeling of knowing they are helping their community and making a better future for SA,” Luke said.

“Having just spent a week in the highlands of Papua New Guinea, I would have to say that nature produces the most amazing habitat to live in - far better than any city.

“I hope more people will feel the same way and make an effort with time or money (or both) to leave the world a better place than they found it.”

Thanks Luke – and welcome!PS. Luke has also kindly donated a

prize for our annual TFL Lottery.

Trees For Life supporter

Bunnings donates goods to TFL

A big thanks to Bunnings Mile End, which donated goods worth more than $1500 to Trees For

Life recently.Goods included tree loppers,

secateurs, potting mix, pots, seed raising mix and drills for our Tree Scheme and Bush For Life programs.

The donation was a thank you to Trees For Life for running some revegetation workshops for school students at the Mile End store as part of Schools National Tree Day in July.

Thanks Bunnings; very much appreciated!

Merlene, from Bunnings Mile End, with TFL nursery staff Graham Greaves and Brett Oakes.

39 Hillview Road, Coonamia

A rare opportunity to own a unique and versatile 9 acre rural property, located conveniently within 3km of the city centre. Enjoy waking up to uninterrupted views of

the Flinders Ranges and experiencing glorious sunsets. Outside features include large shed, artesian bore, native tree windbreaks and covered garden area. The established drip-fed garden areas include a variety of native shrubs and trees as well as roses, citrus, a macadamia and olive tree. Two tanks provide over 20,000L of rainwater. The house has 2 b-rooms, modern JAG kitchen and distinctive bathroom featuring red gum and mini orb and a recently installed spacious laundry. Heating and cooling appliances offer year round comfort. Entertain friends and family in the enclosed wood fired pizza oven area. The house is located on 2 titles: one title is 4 acres and the other 5 acres. For inquiries phone Brodie Lavis on 0417 826 016 or visit www.lavisrealestate.com.au

A big thank you to the UrbanVirons Group for donating a wonderful seed drying hothouse for operations in Pallamana!

Natural Resources Contacts

Adelaide & Mt Lofty Ranges: Kym Good 8273 9100 Alinytjara Wilurara: Matthew Ward 8303 9667Eyre Peninsula: Annie Lane 8682 5755Kangaroo Island: Bill Haddrill 8553 4300Northern & Yorke: Lynne Walden 8636 2361South Australian Arid Lands: Trevor Naismith 8648 5194South Australian Murray-Darling Basin: Hugo Hopton 8532 9100South East: Tim Collins 8724 6000


Thanks to Cooper, 11, for his gorgeous echidna drawing, and Amber-Skye, 10, for her biodiversity bat drawing. Cooper and Amber-Skye sent in their drawings as part of a Royal Adelaide Show competition.

Budding artists - send us your masterpieces!

Thank you to all the young Trees For Life members who have sent in fantastic artwork over the year.

It is a real pleasure to see how nature inspires your creativity.

If the little artist in you emerges this summer and you find yourself drawing, painting or writing about the Australian environment, plants or animals, please don’t file it away.

We would love for you to proudly show it off. Artwork can be emailed to [email protected] or posted to 5 May Tce, Brooklyn Park 5032.

You never know, it may even feature in the next edition of ReLeaf!

Happy Christmas everyone.- BESS

Trees For Life. 5 May Tce, Brooklyn Park, SA, 5032. (08) 8406 0500 www.treesforlife.org.au

Documents

Releaf December 2013