TFL launches bushfire appeal

Natives benefit CMV Farms

Clare bushcarers win award

Autumn 2014 Issue 130

Trees For Life Autumn 2014 Number 1301 2

Contact usReLeaf is a production of Trees For Life.

Editorial/Advertising: Tania Kearney (ph: 8406 0500 or taniak@treesforlife.org.au) Production/Graphic Design: Image and Substance Printing: Finsbury Green

Want to advertise?Advertising space is now available in ReLeaf. Phone 8406 0500 or email taniak@treesforlife.org.au for advertising rates.

Cover Photo: Sticky Cassinia (Cassinia uncata) at Newland Head Conservation Park by Peter Watton.

Trees For Life5 May Tce, Brooklyn Park 5032 Ph: 8406 0500 Fax: 8406 0599 info@treesforlife.org.au www.treesforlife.org.au

What’s on…Now Growing season

underway

March 12 Seed collection w-shop @ Belair NP

March 18 Intro bush regen w-shop @ Mt Barker

March 21-23 Backup In

April 1 Group seed collection day @ Strathalbyn

April 17 Intro bush regen w-shop @ Stirling

May 1 Group seed collection day @ Williamstown

May 1 Landholder ordering

May-Sep Volunteer planting on Fleurieu (see Pg 4)

May 2-4 Backup Out

May 3 Intro bush regen w-shop @ Victor Harbor

May 18 Tree planting @ Rockleigh

May 22 Intro bush regen w-shop @ TTree Gully

May 25 Tree planting @ Rockleigh

May 29-31 Surplus-Garden Sale

May 31 Tree planting @ Eden Valley

June 1 Tree planting @ Rockleigh

June 6 Intro bush regen w-shop @ Clare

June 8 Tree planting @Rockleigh, Eden Valley

June 21 Intro bush regen w-shop @ Hallett Cove

For more information or bookings phone Trees For Life on (08) 8406 0500. See Page 8 for Come ‘n Try events for those interested in bushland group activities.

General NewsPresident’s Message

Feedback welcome for the Tree Scheme Program

My melaleucas are struggling. How are yours? Germination this year seems particularly patchy. I’m not sure if I’ve got the Aquasol mixture right

and then the weather over the Christmas break was so up and down. It’s worse than bringing up children, well almost!

Due to some health issues and various other commitments I haven’t put my hand up to grow seedlings for a couple of years and I must have lost the knack or perhaps simply forgotten what a challenge 10 boxes of seedlings can be. Mind you, the sheoaks are looking good and I have high hopes for the mixture of acacias and eucalypts that makes up the balance of a crop that, come next winter, will form part of a wildlife corridor being created by farmers on the Yorke Peninsula.

That’s the essence and strength of our Tree Scheme Program, a volunteer grower from Adelaide producing native seedlings for planting by rural landowners; town and country coming together to help the environment.

It was as a volunteer grower that I joined Trees For Life (TFL). A friend suggested that it might be something that interested me, that I do something positive for the environment while at the same time improving my general well-being. It did all three and introduced me to a wonderful group of people and a great organisation.

I don’t even mind filling the tubes although I have to confess that it helps that this takes place mainly in late November, December and January when I can listen to the cricket on my earphones. This year has been a great experience as I’ve busily shovelled in the potting mixture to the happy sound of the regular fall of English wickets! We’re currently reviewing the Tree Scheme. How it works, the services it provides, the materials it uses and how it can be improved to better help landowners and undo some of the damage done to our environment. The scheme was the founding cornerstone of TFL and the relationship that developed between volunteer growers, farmers and other land managers a key factor in the growth of the organisation over the past 30+ years.

But as times change it’s important that we also take stock and ensure that the services and programs we offer are what the community wants and packaged in ways that are appreciated and valued. In the December edition, our new Tree Scheme manager, Ian Lett, indicated he’ll be analysing landowner survey responses with a view to initiating any improvements. In the meantime if you have any feedback to give Ian please email him at ianl@treesforlife.org.au or phone (08) 8406 0500.

Our success as an organisation relies on a whole range of partnerships - volunteers and staff, sponsors, supporters and funding bodies. Although in the end it’s all about the environment and doing something practical to rehabilitate and restore our native vegetation, we could achieve nothing without our supporter base. So, thanks for all your help over the years and we look forward with confidence to even more success in the future. Must dash, it’s teatime at the cricket and I have to check on those pesky melaleucas.DAVID MITCHELL AM

Plant sale in May - members discounts!

A variety of quality native plant seedlings - trees, shrubs, groundcovers, grasses and reeds

- will be available at Trees For Life’s Indigenous Plant Sale in May.

The seedlings are suitable for gardens around the Adelaide metropolitan area, hills and surrounds. This includes winter-grown species not available to landholders who order through the Tree Scheme.

Seedlings will be $2.50 each for members and $4 for non-members.

Forest in a boxSeedlings of popular species such as Eucalyptus and Acacias, suitable for a variety of vegetation zones. Ideal for windbreaks, biodiversity, erosion control or habitat. Seedlings for sale by the box (50 seedlings) only. Up to 2 species per box. $50 per box for members, $100 for non-members.

Species for individual saleMedium to tall shrubs: Acacia acinacea, Atriplex cinerea, Banksia marginata, Dodonaea viscosa spatulata, Hakea carinata and rostrata, Senna sp.

Groundcovers: Einadia nutans, Hardenbergia violacea, Kennedia prostrata, Carpobrotus rossii, Enchyleana tomentosa, Kunzea pomifera, Clematis microphylla.

Low to medium plants: Lotus australis, Olearia ramulosa, Vittadinia, Grevillea lavandulacea, Goodenia amplexans, Thomasia petalocalyx, Kunzea pomifera, Leucophyta brownii, Platylobium obtusangulum, Ixodia achillaeoides, Billardiera cymosa, Rhagodia candolleana, Correa glabra, pulchella and reflexa.

Grasses & reeds: Dianella sp, Juncus pallidus, Rytidosperma sp. Austrostipa sp., Ficinea nodosa, Cyperus sp., Enneapogon nigricans.

The sale is on at the Betty Westwood Nursery, Brooklyn Park, on Thursday May 29 and Friday May 30 10am-3pm; Saturday May 31 10am-1pm.

Left: Some of the species for sale at the Betty Westwood Nursery in May, from top, Helichrysum, Correa reflexa, Arthropodium strictum, Carex fascicularis and Linum marginale.

Coastal Bitter-bush not all badBRETT OAKES

Through the dunes of southern SA, including what once existed in Glenelg and Brighton, you are

likely come across the suitably named Coastal Bitter-bush.

These shrubs, otherwise known as Adriana quadripartita, have leaves that are green on top, white underneath, and the male and female plants have different flowers, either long spikes, or tight clusters respectively.

While Bitter-bush isn’t showy, one important feature is that it is the sole foodplant for the rare Bitter-bush Blue Butterfly (Theclinesthes albocincta). As the name suggests, its wings feature iridescent blue patterns. Theclinesthes seeks out male plants, as these flowers are preferred.

If you live in coastal areas, planting Bitter-bush may attract the Bitter-bush Blues, and then you too can enjoy this colourful butterfly.

Find us on:

Trees For Life Autumn 2014 Number 1303 4

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.

Cause for optimism after Rockleigh firesALEX COOMBE

In January the Rockleigh area in the eastern hills experienced significant bushfires for the third

time in two years. The region has been a hub of

Trees For Life activity for decades, particularly in terms of revegetation. In recent years it has seen an increase in restoration on private properties as parts of the landscape are retired from use as sheep grazing paddocks and turned into family homes, private nature reserves and hobby farms.

Since 2010 Trees For Life has been working closely with private landholders in the area as part of a pilot project funded by the Native Vegetation Council. Trees For Life has been assisting locals with revegetation and the restoration of existing remnant vegetation. In collaboration with the Nature Conservation Society of South Australia, a vegetation monitoring program has been established in remnant vegetation, paddocks and areas that have been previously direct seeded.

There is plenty of cause to be optimistic about the recovery of the native vegetation that was recently burnt in Rockleigh. Vince Critchley, a 5th generation local landholder believes it is important for people to see the fires as a once in a lifetime opportunity to help native plants recover naturally. “When I was young I witnessed the incredible rejuvenation of native plants after a fire. Unfortunately on that occasion a farmer over-grazed the area and the opportunity was lost.” Mr Critchley was the initial state coordinator for Blazeaid, a non-profit organisation that recruits volunteers to help rebuild lost fences after fire and therefore protect native vegetation.

BlazeAid has now set up a base camp at Palmer to help landholders.

“We have a chance to learn more about the response of our native vegetation to fire thanks to monitoring programs like those setup in Rockleigh by groups like Trees For Life and the Eastern Hills and Murray Plains Catchment Group.”

Tree planters needed on the Fleurieu

Trees For Life’s Fleurieu Volunteer Tree Planting Group is again looking for helpers from May to

September this year.The team planted 2410 trees last

season – taking the total number up to 89,012 planted since 1993!

Volunteer planting coordinator Bunti Pellen said they provided a vital service for landholders who may otherwise not be able to vegetate their property.

Last year nine properties were visited spanning from Murray Bridge to Victor Harbor and this year they hope to get more trees planted on more properties.

There will be approximately 10 plantings, generally every Sunday from May to September, in any weather. The plantings run from 10am to 12 noon-1pm, followed by a delicious luncheon provided by the landholder.

For more information contact Bunti on (08) 7329 2889, 042 901 6335 or bunti@adam.com.au (don’t contact after 7pm Sunday-Thursday).

Help our fire appeal

Trees For Life has started a tree appeal to help landholders affected by the recent

bushfires revegetate their land. Seedlings will be provided free

to landholders, with community plantings to be organised on properties during winter. Volunteers have already started growing native seedlings. How you can help:• Register to help at a planting

event (either planting or catering)

• Let any bushfire-affected landholder know

• Support the appeal either financially or in-kind. $20 buys all the materials needed to grow 50 trees. A $65 contribution covers the cost of tree guards and stakes.

An estimated 480,000 hectares have been burnt throughout the State affecting the regions of Rockleigh, Eden Valley, Bangor in the southern Flinders Ranges, Ngarkat and Billiatt conservation parks in the Murraylands, the Far West Coast, the Riverland and Fleurieu Peninsula.

See below for initial TFL planting events (plus keep up-to-date on Facebook or the website).

Lottery support raises $80,000

Our annual Trees For Life lottery has raised a fantastic $80,000 through ticket sales.

The lottery was drawn last month and the first prize of $10,000 went to Karen Possingham (ticket #55542). The second prize, installation and maintenance of a 1 x 3 metre garden bed from Vital Veggies, was won by Sue Duncan (ticket #09317) while third prize – two nights accommodation on Kangaroo Island at Lifetime Private Retreats – was won by M. Cargill (ticket #09076). The winners of the ticket seller’s prize ($200 cash plus two nights accommodation for two people at Rattleys at Pear Tree Hollow) were Judy and David Ferguson.

Trees For Life would like to sincerely thank all those who sold or bought tickets in our main fundraiser. The money raised will be used to revegetate South Australia and help protect its remnant bushland.

All winners were notified by Trees For Life and results published in The Advertiser on February 11, 2014. The winning ticket numbers, starting from first prize, are: 55542, 09317, 09076, 26256, 50571, 51672, 11307, 17562, 55650, 21176, 58647, 03863, 14552, 22605, 14110, 32728, 33508, 36525, 58741, 31485, 21376, 01597, 27925, 35378, 26127, 03683, 02732, 37116, 35625, 01001, 00632, 52655, 50091, 10465, 25642, 17060, 01938, 06998, 33117, 01472, 56699, 51766, 13237, 15157, 33650, 18409, 04958, 57462, 58244, 56347, 36557, 01479, 04149.

Trees For Life would like to sincerely thank the following people and organisations for donating prizes: Vital Veggies, Lifetime Private Retreats, Authenticity Spa Resort, The Outback Loop, Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, JA Grigson, Fox Creek Wines, Eco Pest Control, Clare Valley Cabins, Neville Bonney, Zoos SA, Green Cities, Luke Electrical, Blackwood Golf Club, Coffee By The Beans, Jeffries Garden Soils, Earth Greetings, Health Partners Optical, State Flora, Ultra Tune, Better World Arts, Birkenstock in the Hills, Taking Care of Trees, Springford Business Machines, Total Tools, Worm Organics, Alexandrina Cheese Co., Wallis Cinemas, Greenhills Adventure Park, Rattleys at Pear Tree Hollow.

Help map backyard flora and fauna

Citizen science is a methodology where the public contributes to research through the collection

(and sometimes interpretation) of data. In recent years the number of

citizen science projects has exploded as technology allows quality information to be easily collected and transferred between the public and scientists. It is often a solution where a large amount of data is needed and resources are limited. However, it is not only researchers who benefit from citizen science. The public that get involved often learn interesting facts in the process.

Some examples of citizen science projects in South Australia are on the Barbara Hardy Institute’s website: www.unisa.edu.au/Research/Barbara- Hardy-Institute/Research-1/Citizen- Science/

Successful projects include Operation Magpie, the Great Koala Count and Operation Possum. Collaboration is vital, and the institute has worked with partners such as the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, the Adelaide and Mt Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board, the SA Museum, CSIRO, FauNature and ABC Local Radio.

Other organisations are also running citizen science projects: for example, the Conservation Council of SA is running ‘Feral or in Peril’ (www.feralperil.ala.org.au/bdrs-core/portal/25/home.htm), which is part of a board-funded Reef Watch program. The project aims to involve divers, anglers and other marine users to monitor distribution of noxious marine weeds

as well as species of conservation concern (e.g. the Leafy Sea Dragon).

Another recent activity is the Backyards for Wildlife Citizen Science Project. Like ‘Feral or in Peril’, it uses the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA) portal to collect and manage data. The atlas is for scientists and members of the public to easily contribute and explore publicly-released data. It has maps collecting data on native plants and animals on private property – allowing people to share their environmentally-friendly garden and tell stories about the native plants and animals that visit their backyard.

The project is also working with the Million Trees Program ALA portal to map the distribution of native plants established through community grants for works on public lands in the Greater Adelaide area. The hope is to help inform decision makers about where work is happening, where to target further works, assist community groups acquitting grants, create locations for interpretative signage, and support similar projects.

The Backyards for Wildlife Citizen Science Project is beginning in the Grey Box Grassy Woodlands so please visit www.root.ala.org.au/bdrs-core/b4w/home.htm to jump on board!

Trees For Life Autumn 2014 Number 1305 6

Tree Scheme Tree Scheme

Revegetation good for wine grapes and natureIAN LETT

Take a drive around Langhorne Creek and you may notice something unusual for a wine

district. Between the vineyard blocks of shiraz and cabernet and the roads are large numbers of native trees and shrubs.

The bird life is also abundant and diverse and this is no coincidence. Irrigators on the Angus and Bremer rivers floodplain have agreed to plant and maintain two hectares of native vegetation for each 100 megalitres of water allocated.

At the invitation of Phil Reilly, vineyard manager at CMV Farms, Langhorne Creek, Trees For Life nursery officer Brett Oakes and myself were given an extensive tour of the revegetation work carried out on the CMV Farms’ properties during the past 10 years. Phil and labour coordinator and vineyard hand Wendy Lee were so excited by the success of their revegetation work that they hardly mentioned the grapes during our visit.

I asked Phil what benefits he had seen in the vineyard since starting to plant local native species. His answer lasted for most of the next two hours as we drove around the property.

“Wherever there is a washdown bay I plant lots of trees,” he said. That way the water is sucked up by the trees and the weeds don’t have a chance to get started.

The rows of trees and shrubs along almost every fence line also “help nature”, he explained. This has been backed up by the group’s monitoring of insect types in adjacent vineyards. The monitoring revealed that close to the native plants insects were mainly beneficial predators, and that further away from the native plants they were mostly pests. In addition, birds living in the natives fed on pests.

Fallen logs among the fenced off revegetation were left as a home for lizards and spiders. Phil won’t let anyone cut down dead trees for firewood because “that’s where the parrots live”.

Wendy has been propagating trees and shrubs to replant on the property for more than 10 years. She started by collecting seed from a small patch of bushland and learning how to identify plants from arborist Carolyn Crawford. Wendy subsequently set up a small nursery and used the seed to grow thousands of plants.

Each year Wendy and Phil plant out fence lines and parts of paddocks, complementing the existing remnant vegetation. TFL was also engaged to direct seed areas which were formerly bare paddocks. Now much of the new plants are self sown, and the diversity increases every year.

Phil pointed out callitris seedlings popping up well away from the parent plants, and Brett identified hundreds of shrubs growing in remnant mallee and melaleucas, such as quandongs. Quandongs, being related to sandalwood (Santalum), are root parasites and get their nutrients from other trees.

As well as his position with CMV Farms, Phil is also chairman of the Langhorne Creek Grape Growers Association and is keen to spread the message to other grape growers that revegetation is good for the grapes as well as for nature.

He has given hundreds of seedlings to neighbours, who are extending the well-vegetated fence lines across the floodplain.

During the visit, Phil pointed out the legacy of past agricultural practices.

At the edge of a paddock of wheat

the land rose up to a sandy ridge. Phil said this was the result of past cultivation, where the sandy topsoil had been blown off the paddock. It had blown into a ridge and was held there by a row of eucalypts. The paddock, now planted with chardonnay grapes, was nothing but clay top soil. Now that cultivation has ceased, callistemons, melaleucas, acacias and eucalypts are thriving in the sandy soil.

I noticed extensive holes and scrapings; the culprits being native rats which burrowed in the easy-to-dig soil. Kangaroos also foraged among the vines, doing no more damage than chewing on some grass. Phil said during the drought the roos would chew on the dripper lines to get a drink and recognising their obvious need for water, they now provided water troughs throughout the property to keep the roos happy. The dripper lines have not been chewed since. This example is typical of the way Phil observes closely what is happening, and develops solutions which work in with the natural systems.

The work that Phil, Wendy and CMV Farms have undertaken during the past 10 years is clearly paying dividends, both in vineyard productivity and biodiversity-wise. Lizards are coming back to live in the fallen limbs and birds are nesting in eucalypt hollows. The pride that these pioneers show when seeing this is perhaps the greatest benefit of all that work.

The CMV Farms’ Langhorne Creek vineyard and inset, vineyard manager Phil Reilly.

Many hands and great support keeps depot going SUE SOUKOULIS

I’ve had the privilege of managing the Gilles Plains depot for something like 20 years. I can’t remember when

I started growing trees but I do know my daughters were aged about 9 and 11 and the youngest has now just turned 30!

After a couple of years of growing with much pride, I was asked if I would consider taking on the organisation of a depot.

Our depot is run at the old IMVS grounds at Gilles Plains (now SA Health and Medical Research Institute SAHMRI). Without their generosity by allowing us to deliver all the supplies and store prior to the distribution day we would not have been able to continue running a successful depot.

Carol, a long time employee at SAHMRI, gives up her own time on ‘boxing up’ day and on distribution day as we are required to work there with a staff member present. She takes care of deliveries, opens the doors to the kitchen and we enjoy having a get-together every year after the working bee with a cuppa and a homemade boiled fruit cake. (My dear old dad used to make the cake and donate Woodies Lemonade whilst he was alive; his contribution once a year to Trees For Life).

Over the years I have had an assorted cachet of very interesting people come along as volunteers. We all know how important our volunteers are to TFL!

Barry Donaldson was there for many years and I did for some time have the help of young lads from the Cavan Training Centre - I know how much they enjoyed coming along and doing their part for trees.

We also helped to first explain to the Northfield Women’s Prison how easy it really was to collect materials and grow trees and it’s very satisfying to hear their program is still running and flourishing.

Like all volunteer groups, largely due to the vast number of interests people have today, the number of helpers has dwindled. So for the past few years we

have had the wonderful support of the Kiwanis Club of Tea Tree Gully. Many of their able-bodied club members turn up for our working bee every year with a good sense of humour and their shovels. Without them there would be no Gilles Plains depot.

Helen Gilgen and Bunty and Michael Parsons are other TFL growers who are often there with a smile from ear to ear to help (and baked goods from Helen if we are really lucky).

Our oldest grower, Mr Fewsdale (now well into his 90s) was there again this year to collect his materials.

It is just great to see the familiar faces every year continuing to turn up and get so much satisfaction from doing their bit for the trees of South Australia.

I am hoping I will be fit and healthy enough to continue this once-a-year volunteer job for many more years.

Thanks again to everyone who has come along over the years to help at Gilles Plains.

The Gilles Plains depot has been run by volunteer Sue Soukoulis (third from left) for more than 20 years. She has a great team of volunteers to help her including Barry Donaldson, top left.

Volunteers on boxing up day.

2014 Tree Scheme dates & events

Back-up In: March 21-23

Back-up Out: May 2-4

Landholder Ordering: May 1-July 31

Surplus & Garden Sale: May 29-31

Back-up seedlings available in May

If you are a grower who has fallen short of fulfilling your order, then don’t panic as back-up seedlings will

be available for you to collect from our Westwood Nursery on May 2-4.

If you are growing for a landholder, please find out if substitute stock is okay prior to coming in for ‘Back-up’.• Growing for a landholder: It is your

responsibility to collect back-up seedlings (if required) to ensure you complete your order.

• For a revegetation project: You don’t need to get any back-up seedlings, TFL will do it for you.

• For yourself: back-up supplies are available however grow-your-own species won’t be available.

How to collect back-up seedlings Please bring your Growing Order (which lists the plants that you are growing) with you as identification and mark down what it is you need, which will allow us to help you effectively. The first few hours of the first day are always busy with a long queue of cars so please consider coming later in the day or on the following days. The nursery is situated on the corner of Sir Donald Bradman Drive and May Terrace.

Country growers please contact us directly on (08) 8406 0500 for back-up.

Trees For Life Autumn 2014 Number 1307 8

Bush For Life Bush For Life

Brush-up on correct herbicide usePETER WATTON

Herbicides are a useful tool for bushcarers to use judiciously to control weeds, and Bush For Life

(BFL) uses them in minimal quantities to ensure no off target impacts. It is important to always read and understand the label and safety data sheet provided by the manufacturer.

Glyphosate, which is often used to help manage environmental weeds in native vegetation, is a non-selective herbicide. Depending on the rate and method of application, it can kill most plants, whether they are trees or grasses.

Sometimes it is desirable to use a selective herbicide, where it has a mode of action that targets a more limited range of plant types, sometimes down to a single plant species.

BFL has conducted training on the use of the broadleaf herbicide, metsulfuron methyl, for a number of years.

The product that we have been using is Brush-Off, with an active constituent of 600g/kg metsulfuron methyl. Brush-Off comes in a granular form that is mixed with water and applied as a spray. It needs to be agitated regularly while spraying, to keep it in suspension.

It can be used as a selective pre- and post-emergence herbicide for control of certain woody and broadleaf herbaceous weeds; it can also affect some annual grasses. At a relatively low concentration, it has been found to be very effective on weeds that have bulbs or tubers, while having minimal impact on native vegetation.

It is a systemic herbicide, taken up by the plant through its foliage or roots, and translocated to other parts of the plant.

It works rapidly, inhibiting cell division in the shoots and roots of the plant, although sometimes the symptoms are not evident for several weeks.

PersistenceImportantly, Brush-Off can be persistent in the soil for up to 22 months (Davies 1997). During this time it may still be taken up through the roots of nearby plants and can impede the regeneration of native plants.

The breakdown in the soil is affected by the rate of application used and site conditions, such as soil temperature, moisture content and pH; essentially it will breakdown quicker in warm wet acid soil and slower in cold dry alkaline soil.

There remain many unknowns about the effects of Brush-Off on native plants, but at the low rates recommended, it is thought that native grasses and hard leaved shrubs are little affected. However, it has the capacity to kill trees if a high enough rate is applied, with Eucalyptus obliqua (Messmate Stringybark) thought to be particularly susceptible.

A surfactant needs to be added to Brush-Off spray mixes, but penetrants should be avoided when overspraying native plants that are usually resistant, as this has been found to even kill native grasses.

In light of the residual nature of Brush-Off, and the unknown impacts on native vegetation, it is essential that we only apply the recommended rate to our target weeds and avoid off-target damage.

The rates for each target weed can be obtained from the Brush-Off label (on the product or www2.dupont.com) or the off-label permit PER13371 (available from www.apvma.gov.au).

Are you using too much?A particular problem with getting the application rate correct is the tiny amount required for spraying weeds using hand sprayers and knapsacks.

For example, the label rate for spraying Bridal Creeper is 0.05g/L, although the off-label permit quotes an even lower rate of 0.015g/L at which it is effective.

Most of the rates for herbaceous weeds on the label are quoted as a per hectare rate, which means the person spraying needs to work out how much volume of spray mix they are spraying out over a particular area. The label rate for Bridal Creeper states that a volume of 500-800L per hectare should be used to minimise the risk of damage to native vegetation.

See the fact sheet on calibration on the AMLRNRM website: www.amlrnrm.sa.gov.au/portals/2/pest_animals_plants/RCU - Callibrating_Spray_equipment.pdf

TFL uses scientific scales that measure to a thousandth of a gram (your average kitchen scales won’t do the job) to measure out the small amounts of Brush-Off used to prepare 5L of spray mix, which it allocates to bushcarers who have completed our advanced workshop.

Tips for use:• Check that you are not using it

in areas with susceptible native species.

• Get the dilution rate RIGHT!• Calibrate your application rate to

the area treated. • Keep records of where Brush-Off

has been applied (so you don’t reapply too soon).

WorkshopIf you’d like to learn more about the use of Brush-Off in bushcare book into Bush For Life’s advanced workshop Broadleaf Weed Control on Saturday July 12. Places are limited. Phone 8406 0500.

This photo shows 0.05g (enough for 1 L of spray mix and treatment of 20 m2 at the label rate for Bridal Creeper).

Brush-Off has been found to be very effective on weeds such as soursobs.

Clare bushcarers receive Australia Day award from council

Bush For Life volunteers of the Clare Valley have been recognised for their outstanding contribution

to the local environment, receiving the Clare and Gilbert Valley Council’s Australia Day Community Event of the Year Award.

The group, which numbers 21 on average, started in late 1999 working on the Emu Flat Reserve. The volunteers have since expanded their focus over the years to include Neagle’s Rock Reserve, Sevenhill Orchid Areas, Auburn Cemetery, Hughes Park Road reserve and Pinks Reserve. Different teams take on the various sites, but all come under the Bush For Life banner.

Many of the volunteers have also supported the Hutt River Restoration Project and have supplied specimen plants to the State Herbarium in the last 12 months through Trees For Life’s Weeds Herbarium Project.

Also in the past 12 months, the bushcarers have obtained funding for invasive plant control in various areas around Clare of nearly $24,000, including important work on Neagles Rock Reserve, the habitat of the nationally endangered Osbourne’s Eyebright (Euphrasia collina ssp. osbornii).

The volunteers – usually teams of between two and 10 - currently meet on a weekly basis and undertake about two hours of on-ground works. They are also joined by keen metropolitan volunteers on a three or four-day extended Bush Action Team every year.

Congratulations to all of our wonderful Clare volunteers on a job well done – we’re very proud of you!

Clare Valley bushcarers with their Australia Day award, from left, Joan and Jim Scott, Pam O’Malley, Jan and Julie Aamodt and Libby Brady.

2014 Come & Try Bushcare

These full day activities are perfect for people who want to try bushcare for the first

time. Phone (08) 8406 0500 to book or find out more information.

Wednesday April 2 @ Macclesfield

Saturday April 12 @ One Tree Hill

Thursday April 24 @ Mount Barker Springs

Thursday May 8 @ Aldinga

Friday May 16 @ Flagstaff Hill

Wednesday May 28 @ Lenswood

Tuesday June 3 @ Coromandel East

Saturday June 21 @ Woodcroft

When does a mini-BAT become a maxi-BAT ?

Ridge Road Reserve Bush For Life site is a long, un-made road reserve stretching along the south

western boundary of Cox’s Scrub Conservation Park near Mt Compass.

Although narrow, it covers more than five hectares and is a vital buffer to the conservation park and contains excellent plant diversity with more than 85 indigenous species.

Being fairly remote from local population centres it is managed by BFL’s regional coordinator Sue Bradstreet by organising ‘mini-Bush Action Teams’ - groups of volunteers from across the region - to visit the site for an intensive half-day working bee under Sue’s guidance.

One beautiful Saturday morning last Spring 13 enthusiastic volunteers participated in a mini-BAT. 

“We were able to  patrol 1.4km of the site where we knew Monadenia, the South African weed orchid, was present and spend time in the buffer zones along the fence-line too,” Sue said.

“The back of my car was filled with about five large bags of Monadenia, hopefully removing 99.9% of these invasive plants. We enjoyed a peaceful site, some beautiful native vegetation and birds, and good company showing some first time volunteers what a great activity bush restoration can be.”

Highbury aqueduct

Last December volunteers finally got the opportunity to get their hands dirty on our new BFL site within

the Highbury Aqueduct Reserve.Established in collaboration with

DEWNR, two of their staff joined eight enthusiastic volunteers on a ‘come and try’ mini-BAT arranged by our local regional coordinator Jessica Page.

This 2ha patch of SA Blue Gum Woodland has many of our regular weed intruders, including olive, pine and pentaschistis, which were all worked on during the morning.

If you would like to get involved in the early stages of restoring this beautiful patch of woodland, phone Jessica on (08) 8406 0500.

Trees For Life Autumn 2014 Number 1309 10

TFL Works TFL Carbon-Direct Seeding

TFL properties lost as bushfires ravage the stateDENNIS HAYLES

As what could only be described as a week from hell, January bushfires lay waste to hundreds

of thousands of hectares of farmland, pastures, remnant bush and native revegetation. Homes and sheds were lost, valuable equipment destroyed, and stock, pets and native fauna killed.

Rockleigh As thunder storms moved across the state on Tuesday January 14, and fuelled by extreme temperatures, lightning strikes started dozens of fires. One such fire at Rockleigh quickly grew and fanned by strong winds consumed more than 5000 hectares before being controlled. In its path was the Hein farm at Pallamanna where we carry out seed drying and processing, and store all of our direct seeding equipment. The fire destroyed the hothouse drying tunnel full of melaleuca seed, a direct seeding machine and trailer, spray tank and equipment, hay shed and a century old stone barn. Importantly the home and shed was spared, along with two direct seeding machines, seed collection trailer and somehow a mob of sheep miraculously remained unscathed.

Many Trees For Life members live in the Rockleigh area and they were also heavily impacted. A home was lost; sheds and equipment destroyed, bushcare work destroyed and a TFL member admitted to hospital with burns injuries.

Eden ValleyOn Friday January 17, a fire starting east of Eden Valley burnt very quickly through property after property. Strong and changing winds, high temperatures and difficult terrain saw this fire laying waste more than 30,000 hectares over a number of days. Three Trees For Life landholders who are stewards of our carbon sequestration plantings were affected. Two adjoining properties on Moss Smith Road were totally burnt out, but once again their homes were saved and animals spared. Another property near Keyneton was saved when the fire

failed to jump the meandering Somme River, burning a small section of their land and carbon plantings.

Other major fires occurred at Ngarkat and Billiatt in the Murraylands, Bangor in the Flinders Ranges, the Far West Coast, the Riverland and Fleurieu Peninsula. In total more than 445,000 hectares were blackened.

Fires are very much part of the Australian landscape and we humans have learnt to cope in this harsh environment. Recovering from fires such as these though, where huge tracts of land have been reduced to ash, will require support of the whole community. There are so many stories of the grief of loss, of livelihoods shattered. Thousands of kilometres of fencing gone, stock lost and homes reduced to ashes, sheds and equipment twisted and melted ruins. The list goes on.

Nature too has taken a big hit. Majestic Red and Blue gums that have withstood all before them for generations lay burnt out and collapsed across the fields of Eden Valley. Shelter for fauna is gone, shade and food now elusive, losses to life extensive. Recovery will take time, and it will be very interesting to watch how the resilient nature of the Australian bush goes about this. Our help will be needed.

Many of the people in the hardest hit areas live there because they care about the environment and have worked tirelessly to look after “their” bit of Country, de-stocking, fencing off remnants, revegetating, carrying out weed removal and general land husbandry. Lots of these people are also Trees For Lifers, and at this difficult time we are thinking of you.

Works team helps Aldgate walking trail

Trees For Life Works has been undertaking bush regeneration activities along the newly formed

6 km Aldgate Valley Nature Walk that connects Aldgate and Mylor.

The walking trail, in the Adelaide Hills Council region, has been upgraded with new signage along a beautiful walk through bushland on public land and adjacent private land.

Importantly the trail is in the ‘Valley of the Bandicoots wildlife corridor’ so focusing on minimal disturbance techniques by not overclearing is a really important factor, ensuring the Bandicoots retain their habitat.

The team has also started work in two sections, pushing weed fronts away from the walking trail and revealing native flora that has been overrun by a number of Weeds of National Significance (WoNs).

TFL Works has been working with several other groups including the local Aldgate Valley Landcare Group, Mylor Parklands Bushcare Group and Friends of Nurrutti reserve.

For more information phone David Mussared on (08) 8388 5996 or email mussared@emailmedia.com.au. A guide of the walk can be found at: www.ahc.sa.gov.au

Before (top) and after (bottom) pictures of some of the weed clearance undertaken along the Aldgate Valley walking trail.

‘Remarkable’ results from Flinders tripSAMANTHA JONES

In late October 2013 the Trees For Life Works team was contracted by Natural Resources Northern & Yorke

to undertake woody weed control in the Southern Flinders Ranges, along the Willochra Creek in Melrose.

The work is part of a long-term restoration project funded by the Australian government to vastly improve the condition of four priority catchments in the Northern & Yorke region including the Willochra Creek Catchment, covering 6425 square kilometres.

Work includes committed woody weed control and revegetation over the next few years.

The team was stationed in the Southern Flinders for four days and carried out work on five privately owned properties and one area of crown land, all situated at the foot of the spectacular Mt Remarkable National Park.

Native vegetation along the Willochra Creek line consisted mostly of River Red Gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) with patches of Wallaby (Rytidosperma sp) and Lemon-grass (Cymbopogon ambiguous) dispersed throughout.

The creek line also contained clumps of Juncus and Cyperus sp. - the only species which appeared to be regenerating well. The lack of

regeneration of other native species is likely to be attributed to grazing which still occurs on a couple of the sites.

Dog Rose (Rosa sp.), Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia), Pepper tree (Schinus molle) and Olive (Olea europaea) were the target species for weed control, with all four found in varying densities across most of the sites.

District Council of Mt Remarkable employees helped clear and mulch woody debris in a bid to improve waterway conditions. Dog Rose, which could not be mulched, was cut up and scattered where possible or piled neatly for landowners to burn at the appropriate time of year.

Evidence of past olive control on a couple of the sites highlighted the importance of effective treatment due to the incredible resilience of olives.

In some areas where olives had been cut down to the stump, the team encounted numerous stems which had regrown from the lignotuber making treatment more time-consuming and challenging. On an adjacent property - which boasts the densest olive infestation - Natural Resources Northern & Yorke is conducting some spray trials to determine a more efficient and effective form of olive control.

It will be interesting to see these trial results!

Part of the Willochra Creek Catchment in Melrose.

The drying tunnel at Pallamanna after fire tore through the region.

Blackened trees on a TFL Carbon client’s property in Eden Valley.

Several Trees For Life members were severely impacted by the fires in January, including carbon clients in Eden Valley, above.

Trees For Life Autumn 2014 Number 13011 12

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

(08) 8406 0500 to register for workshops.

Tuesday March 18 Mt Barker

Thursday April 17 Stirling

Saturday May 3 Victor Harbor

Thursday May 22 Tea Tree Gully

Friday June 6 Clare

Saturday June 21 Hallett Cove

Friday July 4 Brooklyn Park

Wednesday July 23 Mitcham Hills

2014 seed collection workshop (SC1)Wednesday March 12 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.

2014 group seed collection days (SD1)Tuesday April 1 Strathalbyn

Thursday May 1 Williamstown

Car pooling will be arranged for the group seed collection days. For more information phone Seedbank Manager Bruce Smith on 8406 0500.

2014 Come ‘n Try BushcareWednesday April 2 Macclesfield

Saturday April 12 One Tree Hill

Thursday April 24 Mt Barker Springs

Thursday May 8 Aldinga

Friday May 16 Flagstaff Hill

Wednesday May 28 Lenswood

Tuesday June 13 Coromandel East

Saturday June 21 Woodcroft

For Members For Members

Members, volunteers and staff at the annual Christmas party in December.

Our worthy recipients of Thank You Tree certificates for supporting Trees For Life and the environment, presented at the annual Christmas party.

A large group of Trees For Life members were presented with Gold Member certificates for their 20-year support of the organisation at the 2013 Christmas function.

Members and volunteers recognised at Christmas party

More than 200 members, volunteers, sponsors and supporters attended Trees For

Life’s 2013 Christmas party.The annual event gives Trees For

Life the opportunity to thank all those who have worked tirelessly to promote and support Trees For Life throughout the year.

Certificates in two award categories were given out at the event – Gold Member certificates for 20+ years service and Thank You Tree awards for volunteers.

This year, Gold Member certificates were awarded to 261 long-term members for their support of TFL.

Thank You Tree awardees were: Alan Brokenshire, Noelene Zadow, Mrs D. Dahms, Pam Fiala, Lindsay Dent, Doug Kelly, Stella Soult, Jeffrey Higgins, Richard House, Ian Bond, Clare Longhorn, David Kilmartin, Phil Woodroffe, Laima Guscia, Elizabeth and Michael Spanner, Peter Brooks, Blat Goulder, Beryl Kingston, Hilary Dennis, John Fidge, Sonia Read, Jenny Fontanot, Meg Byrt, Jill Stone, Kristian Mumford, Robin Baxter, Trish Frith, Bill Holdsworth, Bill Ellenbroek, Dinah and Scott Dawson, Ann Woodroffe, Jane Juttner, Janita Hill, Jo Mason, Julian Walsh, Libby Robertson, Lyn Wegener, Sheila Gunson, Sue Rodwell, Barb Howes, Wayne Hooper, Karen Shelton.

Following on from the Christmas show, Bush For Life volunteers also enjoyed their annual picnic in the South Park Lands. More than 70 hardy volunteers celebrated a very successful year of Bush Action Teams and achievements on BFL sites and kept cool in the shade on a very hot day!

Trees For Life out & about in SA

The Trees For Life team will be involved in several events in the coming month so if you’re

looking for something to do or somewhere to go, the following might interest you.• The Mt Pleasant Show will be

held on Saturday, March 15, at Talunga Park. Trees For Life will be a stallholder in the Natural Resources Management Hub, along with other environmental groups. The Mt Pleasant Show is one of the most well attended regional gatherings in the district, with more than 10,000 people attending last year alone. Gates open at 10am.

• The Karoonda Farm Fair will be held on April 4 and 5. The annual two-day event, based in Karoonda in the heart of the Murraylands, showcases local, state and interstate farming and general interest products, services and events.

• Trees For Life will have a stall at the 891 ABC Adelaide Gardeners’ Market on Saturday, April 12. More than 100 stallholders attend the event, which is held in the carpark of ABC Adelaide’s Collinswood studios. Gates open 8am and close 1pm.

• We will also be participating in the Australian Native Plants Sale on Saturday and Sunday, April 26 and 27. The sale is held at the Adelaide Showgrounds in Wayville, with gates opening at 10am both days.

At all events, Trees For Life will have native seedlings for sale, our Start from the Seed kits and plenty of information about ordering and growing native seedlings, as well as other programs such as direct seeding and bushcare volunteering. We look forward to seeing you! Cottage To Rent

2 bedrooms - $230 p/wIn beautiful bush setting,

Kersbrook area. National Trust of SA ReservePhone NTSA Natural Heritage

Officer on 0400 294 125

Trees For Life Autumn 2014 Number 13013 14

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

Sponsors and Supporters Service Directory

Trees For Life

Trees For Life, 5 May Tce, Brooklyn Park 5032Ph: (08) 8406 0500 Fax: (08) 8406 0599info@treesforlife.org.auwww.treesforlife.org.au

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

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

Trees For Life fee based services by our professional staff

For government, business and private landholders:• Bushland management• Fuel reduction control• Roadside vegetation management• Woody weed control• Bulk seed collection• Revegetation and bushland buffering• Tubestock planting • Tubestock grown to order• Direct seeding using locally

collected seed• Site visits and land management advice

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

Trees For Life’s IT Manager is:

Trees For Life supporter

Land for Sale on Kangaroo Island (Lot 102, Middle River)

Pristine natural bush block of 120 hectares, with creeks and permanent waterholes with marron and yabbies, two dams, 18m x 9m x 4m lockable shed with rainwater tank, power available on property. Most of property is under Heritage Agreement protecting over 100 different plant species, (incl. many orchids); birds, (incl. glossy black cockatoos) and animals, (goannas, echidnas, etc.). Cleared area along North Coast Road has several potential house sites with sweeping views to the East. Close to Snellings Beach, Middle River and Western River Cove. For more info: Google Lot 102 Middle River or contact Colin Hopkins, Elders Ph: 8553 2102.

Trees For Life was selected by SAAB Australia staff at their Mawson Lakes offices to be the recipient of funds last festive season. TFL was one of three charities selected. TFL sponsorship manager Glenys Perri, left, accepts the cheque from SAAB Australia’s Petra Wiesner. Petra is on the environmental committee at SAAB and is a life member of Trees For Life, with a heritage agreement on her property in the Adelaide Hills.

Businesses show they care ... how about yours?

From Brazillian bikinis to Scandavian homewares & accessories ... small and unique

Australian businesses are showing

that they care and that they are committed to giving back to our environment by making a donation to Trees For Life to grow more native seedlings.

Check these two out: Rock The Boat swimwear, which makes a donation for every bikini sold (www.rocktheboatbikini.com) and Dirt By Earth (www.dirtbyearth.com).

TFL hosts sponsors night at museum

Trees For Life sponsors attended a special event at the SA Museum where guests enjoyed

an exclusive viewing of wildilife and nature photography at the award winning ANZTAG Exhibition of Wildlife photography. Special thanks to Chapel Hill for the donation of their superb wine for the function.

New sponsors and supporters are always welcome - if you would like to know more about supporting the work of Trees For Life through your business please contact Glenys Perri on (08) 8406 0500.

Above: At the sponsors night are Andrew Boorman (Scunthorpe Forest) and Barbara Hardy (Nature Foundation) Below: Marino and Amanda Rossi of Thompson Rossi Architects.

Darren donates 5% of sales to TFL

Long-term Trees For Life member Darren Longbottom is currently travelling around Australia

pursuing his passion for land and oceanscape photography.

He has established a website ‘Sustain-A-Frames’ and has kindly included on it a promotion for Trees For Life in which 5% of any purchase goes to TFL.

“I have spent many hours fulfilling roles such as a grower for the Trees For Life Tree Scheme and in more recent times volunteering my time to manage a Bush For Life site in the Clarendon area,” Darren said.

“As my landscape photography focuses and depends so heavily on our environment I am more than happy to donate 5% of any purchase from Sustain-A-Frames to Trees For Life as they play a large role in keeping our environment in a wonderful state and every little bit of support helps them achieve their goals which benefit the people of South Australia.”

Darren’s website features some amazing photography so make sure you take a look. Log onto: darrenlongbottom.com.au

Start From Seed Kit Start From Seed kits are now available from Trees For Life for just $20.The kit, which includes soil, fertiliser, gravel mulch, hard planter tubes, seed, plant labels, Growers Handbook and dust masks, allows you to grow 50 native seedlings.Great for schools, individuals or groups!Call (08) 8406 0500.

Perpetual Sponsor

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

A clever reptile tail

I would like to say a huge thank you to James and Ben Rawlings for sending in their fantastic drawings!The Blue-tongued lizards and gecko

look to be having a wonderful time in their backyard habitats. Great work!

Did you know that blue-tongued lizards and some geckos, like a number of other lizards, are able to detach their tails if they are caught by a predator? This process is called ‘autonomy’ (a Greek word meaning ‘self severing’) and allows the lizard to escape the jaws of a hungry animal.

Once the tail is severed it can continue to wriggle for some time, distracting the predator from the rest of the lizard, giving it time to safely run away and, in time, grow another tail! What clever little reptiles indeed.

If you would like to contribute some environmental art work for our kid’s Branch, please post it to 5 May Tce, Brooklyn Park, 5032 or email bessh@treesforlife.org.au. We would love to see it! - BESS

True or false?1. Bushwalking with woolly socks can

spread weeds? 2. Sweeping suburban weeds down

the drain is a good way to get rid of them?

3. Dumped lawn clippings can continue to survive and grow, spreading into new areas?

Answers: 1.True - weed seeds can attach to your socks and fall off in other bushland areas, thus growing new weed plants. So remember to check your socks after walking through weedy areas. 2. False - this can spread weeds into our waterways. 3. True - the responsible way to get rid of lawn clippings is to use your compost or green waste bin.

Fantastic reptile drawings by James and Ben Rawlings.