Getting muddy with Gunnible Landcare Inc

On a cold and wet morning of 26th September 2024, Harry Davey and Jay Barnett from OzFish Unlimited, Nicky Chirlian Liverpool Plains & Gunnedah Landcare Coordinator, and Tony Bernays, Chair of Gunnible Landcare Inc gathered to implement stage one of a Namoi River restoration project, on “Eldorado”, Gunnedah.

The crew planted 300 Lomandra Longifolia sourced from Tamworth Regional Landcare Nursery, round the top and midsection of a steep cut in the riverbank.  An efficient planting with a handheld auger drill (making quick work on beautiful loam), hand planting the Lomandras into the holes and then watering.

There is significant flood damage to the river banks, and it is hoped restoration on this section of the Namoi will be able to continue on a larger scale.

 

PS A special creature greeted the writer…


Latest News



Weathering the Seasons: Cover Crops for Climate Smart Farming

Join Local Land Services for a practical, hands-on workshop exploring how cover crops can improve soil health and build resilience on your farm.

📅 Monday 16 March 2026
📍 Emerald Hill Community Hall

Hear from industry experts, see a live roller-crimper demonstration, and learn about soil health, moisture outlooks and climate-smart farming practices.


Intrepid Landcare Property Tour – Kamilaroi Cattle Company

Intrepid Landcare Property Tour – Kamilaroi Cattle Company

 Last Saturday, 1st March, Intrepid Landcare participants gathered at Kamilaroi Cattle Company for a truly outstanding and insightful property tour hosted by Charlie Thurgate.With a good group of engaged attendees, the day was marked by thoughtful questions, open discussion and genuine curiosity.


Composting Workshop With Dr Ernie Harbott

🌱 Composting with Dr Ernie Harbott 🌱

Join North West Local Land Services for a hands-on composting workshop in Tamworth! Learn simple, practical skills to create healthy, productive soil using sustainable methods.

🗓 Saturday, 18 April 2026
⏰ 9:00am – 3:00pm
📍 Tamworth Landcare Nursery, 300 Wallamore Rd, Westdale


TRLA Small Grants Program

Applications are now open for the Tamworth Regional Landcare Association Small Grants Program — a great opportunity to bring your local environmental or community project to life. Funding is available for practical, on-ground activities that support biodiversity, sustainability, and community engagement across our region. Get your ideas in before March 1 and let us help turn them into action!


Meet Clancy Lester (The Bee Man) - Coming To Tamworth

If you’ve heard the buzz about native bees lately, chances are you’ve come across Clancy Lester — affectionately known as “The Bee Man.” Clancy is an environmental educator and researcher, focusing on Australia’s incredible native bees!


Landcare Learning - With Clancy Lester

You may have seen that Clancy Lester, also known as The Bee Man, is heading to Tamworth! Before building bee hotels at Currawong Park, Clancy will be our guest speaker at Landcare Learning on March 17 at UNE centre, where he’ll explore Australia’s native bees, their relationship with flowering plants, and simple, practical actions we can all take to support biodiversity.  This is a free event, with light refreshments but please visit the link and register to secure your seat. If you have any questions, please contact Susan – susan@trla.org.au or 0400590776


A Guided Bird Walk On The Farm

Join North West Local Land Services in Winton/Tamworth on 11 March (9:00am-12:00pm) for a fascinating morning exploring birds led by bird ecologist Steve Debus and local birdwatchers Alex Hunt and Denise Kane!

This engaging morning will explore topics such as recent bird surveys and the results of these surveys, the impact of farming practices on bird diversity and habitat features to support birdlife and much more.

Whether you're a landholder, bird enthusiast or simply curious about nature this is a fantastic opportunity to learn, connect and enjoy the outdoors.


Landcare Leadership Program – Chaffey Dam | 27–28 March

We’re excited to share an upcoming opportunity for young people to grow their leadership skills, connect with like-minded changemakers, and take part in hands-on environmental action.

The Landcare Leadership Program will be held at Chaffey Dam on 27–28 March and is open to young people aged 13–35.


Keeping Your Plants Going in the Extremes of Summer Heat

Our North West Slopes / Namoi Valley has its own very particular mix of heat, wind, clay soils and brutal dry spells. Below is advice that is informed by our hot summers, cracking clays, exposure, and regeneration-scale plantings. It also has application to suburban gardens  

North West Slopes & Namoi Valley (Bush Regeneration Plantings)

 



Now’s the Time to Plan for Autumn Tree Planting

Planting trees is a long-term investment in the health, productivity and resilience of your property. While the act of planting may still be a few months away, now is the ideal time to start planning and preparing for your autumn planting program, a season widely recognised as the most successful time to establish farm trees.


Exploring Grassy Box Woodlands and Wildlife Corridors

On 15 December, around 35 enthusiastic community members joined TRLA for a fascinating Grassy Box Woodland Field Trip, visiting Klori Travelling Stock Reserve (TSR) at Somerton for a morning session.


Blackville TreeTroff Update

Following my initial report on the TreeTroff installation at Blackville Public School on 4th November, I made  a quick trip out to Blackville Public School on 15th December. 

This was  an opportunity for staff, students and myself to gain more understanding of the process of the TreeTroff equipment and program...


Upper Mooki Landcare’s Creekbank Stabilization and Water Management workshop

28 Landowners attended Upper Mooki Landcare’s Creekbank Stabilization and Water Management workshop on 15th November.  Presented by landowner and UMLC member Roger Ottery, and UMLC Chair Andrew Wylie, the day was well planned, enabling participants to visit 3 varying sites.  These included observation of a new paddock swale with spill, use of embedded logs to direct creek water flow,  and a demonstration of making and placing Rock Bags and a Rock Mattress directly into the creek.  The day was beautifully catered for by UMLC members and finished with a BBQ on the creek and much ongoing dialogue.  Feedback was very positive and included requests for return visits to monitor the progress of the sites. 


Save the Date for Landcare Adventure 2026

Mark your calendars for next year's Landcare Adventure and Regional Landcare Awards!  Speakers include Ian and Di Haggerty, Bruce Maynard, Pip Jones and many more

GYL Cupp & Catchup

GYL Cupp & Catchup

A reminder for Gomeroi Yinarr members and friend to join GYL for a warm Cuppa & Catch-Up on Saturday 21st December.

The catchups provide a gentle space to yarn, breathe out, reconnect, and share some end-of-year joy together.
Bring your stories, your laughter, your sisterhood — and we’ll bring the cuppas.


“Discover a Hidden Woodland Gem: Klori TSR Field Trip with Ecologist David Carr”

Join us for a guided bus trip to the Klori Travelling Stock Route near Somerton with ecologist David Carr from Stringybark Ecological. Explore a rare remnant grassy-box woodland rich in biodiversity and cultural heritage, and learn about the conservation value of these unique ecosystems. We’ll then visit the McVeigh family property, “Aytonlea,” Winton, where over 7,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted to create a thriving, biodiverse landscape. The day will conclude with lunch at Aytonlea and an opportunity to reflect on how thoughtful land management can balance conservation and productivity across our rural environments.


An exciting and innovative opportunity for environmentally conscious youth is on the horizon!

Come and join the fun!🤩 
An exciting and innovative opportunity for environmentally conscious youth is on the horizon!

The Tamworth TRLA is establishing an INTREPID LANDCARE GROUP targeted at individuals ranging from their mid-teens to their mid-30s. We encourage schools, school students, and interested individuals to contact us if this initiative piques your interest. What actions can Intrepid Landcare take to empower you, young individuals, and communities to engage in meaningful activities? Enabling stuff that happens- Intrepid Landcare Australia (https://intrepidlandcare.org/enabling-stuff-that-happens/

Contact: Kate Spry 

Email: kate@trla.orga.au 

Ph: 0428 267 912


Community Takes Action on Common ‘Indian’ Myna Tamworth

Community Takes Action on Common ‘Indian’ Myna Tamworth

If you’ve spent time around Tamworth’s Peel Street cafés, you’ve probably noticed the cheeky Indian Mynas darting between tables, snatching crumbs, and leaving more than a little mess behind. While they might look harmless, these introduced birds are a serious pest — and local community members are banding together to do something about it.


Blackville Public School has joined the TreeTroff Program!

On Tuesday I (Liverpool Plains and Gunnedah Local Landcare Coordinator) had the great pleasure of joining the students and staff of Blackville Public School, and Wes Leedham and Carl Holmsby  from the NSW DET Environmental Education Centre at Coonabarabran, to install a Tree Troff in the playground. 


2025 Landcare conference videos and ressources

Did you miss the landcare conference? If so, You can now watch all the speaker presentation videos from the 2025 National Landcare Conference, and the 2025 National Landcare Awards event online. We have also published over 50 poster presentations that were on display at the conference. 


SOIL: Rewilding the Underground

I know we have a few people among us who has an interest in soils, or if you just want to learn a bit more check out this podcast which was sent to us by Helen. If anyone else has any resources they would like to share let us know!. Thank you Helen 🙏

https://open.spotify.com/show/3GTWyj92WzwyW7iLmc8sY9?si=Kw5BkEn8RdyqeaEhiuqunQ

Our members often say that when you become part of Landcare, you’re not just joining a group, you’re becoming part of a family. The concept is so compatible with Australian culture it’s hard not to get involved! By becoming a TRLA member, you’ll be supporting our work, learning new skills, becoming part of the solution, and helping to make a difference for the future.

LEARN MORE LEARN MORE

together we can make a difference

funding support

Did you know (TRLA) run an Annual Small Grants program for Landcare activities connected to the Tamworth region.

Volunteer Landcare and Grassroots Community groups can apply up to $2,500 for activities that meet an objective of TRLA’s strategic plan with eight successful projects being awarded funds from across the region.

APPLY NOW APPLY NOW