MEDIA RELEASE 11 April 2012
Big field day for smallholders
A free field day packed full of practical advice aimed at lifestyle block owners and hobby farmers will be held in Burnie on Sunday 22 April. Now in its second year, Cradle Coast NRM’s Rural Living Round-up is a key event in the North West catering to this large group of small-acreage landholders; people who are passionate about their patch but are often juggling full time jobs away from their land. The Round-up is designed to provide a one-stop-shop on smallholder property management from weed control and fencing to caring for livestock and being safe around snakes. Experts from the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment; Bureau of Meteorology; Tas Fire; Oldina Nursery; Cradle Coast NRM; the Tasmanian Polytechnic Freer Farm and many other organisations will be on hand so that smallholders can hear presentations, participate in demonstrations and have questions answered on all of their land management issues. Cradle Coast NRM’s Regional Landcare Facilitator and event organiser, Spencer Gibbs, is expecting to top last year’s attendance figure of 500 smallholders. “There’s a great level of interest from the region’s small-acreage land owners in caring for their land,” Mr Gibbs said. “The event is designed with lifestyle land owners in mind so it’s friendly and packed full of information. There’s no such thing as a silly question at the Rural Living Round-up.” Fencing and chainsaw demonstrations will be held throughout the day plus more than 30 stalls will be setup at the site providing information and selling local produce and food. As a family-friendly event, kids at the Rural Living Round-up can enjoy a supervised activity corner with farmyard crafts. The Rural Living Round-up will be held from 10am - 2pm on Sunday 22 April at the Tasmanian Polytechnic Freer Farm in Mooreville Road, Burnie. Entry is free. End…
Cradle Coast NRM works with community, industry, private enterprise and government to manage and improve our natural resources to ensure a healthy future for our region. This project is supported by Cradle Coast NRM through funding from the Australian Government’s Regional Landcare Facilitator Program. Cradle Coast NRM is an independent committee hosted by the Cradle Coast Authority. Media Contacts: Spencer Gibbs - Regional Landcare Facilitator Amanda Wilson - Communications Manager Cradle Coast NRM Cradle Coast Authority Ph: 0417 524 204 Ph: 6431 6285