SIDE BY SIDE WE DID IT

The last year has seen staff, volunteers and landholders work side by side to help heal our landscapes from the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20. It’s been a mission of optimism, camaraderie and helping each other, and the land, to heal.

IMAGES FROM TOP:

Bushfire Recovery Planting Day volunteers with Trees For Life staff.

Mark and Jen Vella were very grateful for the help with planting on their bushfire affected property in the Adelaide Hills.

When the world witnessed the devastation we were inundated with offers of help; “What can we do?”, “What do you need?”

Or people putting their hands up and saying “I am here to help”. The desire to help restore, recover and revive the damaged land was now more important than ever. Through our supporters, volunteers, donors, members, sponsors and staff we’ve been able to fully embrace and enact our mantra of taking action for the land you love.

This has resulted in the nurturing and growth of 19,765 plants for bushfire recovery efforts across the Adelaide Hills, Kangaroo Island,

Avenue Range/Lucindale and

Yorke Peninsula.

What shines through from the recovery efforts is an opportunity for growth and new life and a chance for the community to help a total stranger.

We thought it would be fitting to share the stories of those involved and what this experience has meant to them:

“Seeing the damage to our established tree breaks and young planted trees was heartbreaking. There were lots of old trees that were burnt that have never recovered which is heartbreaking. The volunteers and staff from Trees For Life were fantastic to deal with and extremely helpful, the growers did an amazing job and the trees were big and healthy. Without their help this would have taken us weeks to plant and guard all the trees.” Mark and Jen Vella, landholder

“The availability of half priced plants and guards/stakes due the Viterra partnership with Trees For Life was such a help in getting plants back in the ground so quickly. We were also fortunate to be recipients of plants donated through other initiatives. The pasture recovered well in some places, but we have had to spray out and re-sow more than half of the property due to the prevalence of nutgrass after the fire. We have undertaken soil analysis and, as a result, have put out further applications of lime and fertiliser. We hope to get back to good pasture coverage by the spring of this year. In 2021, we have had the pleasure of hosting the Trees For Life team and 23 volunteers, who have assisted in putting out 350 more shelter belt and paddock plants which are a mix of Trees For Life purchased and Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board donated." Janine Croser, landholder

“The memory of the terrible bushfires that occurred in late 2019 and early 2020 are still fresh. The opportunity to contribute to regeneration of our land is something I feel passionately about. Thankfully the bushfires were not close to where I live and work but I had friends who were impacted. Thankfully they didn’t lose anything in the fire but were on alert.

It’s a very humbling experience when you see the blackened land and talk to a landowner who recalls their experiences of the bushfire. I feel particular loss for the flora and fauna diversity that was wiped out, some of which may never come back.

This was my first time planting but it certainly won’t be my last!” Tim Kinchington, volunteer

“I can't fight fires, or rebuild homes, but I can garden and plant trees, so by helping to revegetate our bushfire-scarred landscape at least I can contribute to rebuilding my community and our precious local environment.

Replanting not only helps restore our landscape, amenity, water quality, biodiversity and help to store carbon, it also helps restore hope in those landowners affected by the fires, by showing them that we care and that they are not alone.” Kathy Burroughes, volunteer

We would like to acknowledge our donors, volunteers and sponsors for making this possible. We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have such generous support from both at home and overseas.