ReLeaf Summer 2020

BRINGING TREES TO LIFE A Trees For Life Publication SUMMER 2020 ISSUE 156

BULOKE FOR THE FUTURE

REVITALISING PRIVATE CONSERVATION

DEDICATION ACROSS THE DECADES

O E C d n a t n e id s e r our P a Je

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MESSAGES FROM

elcome to our summer ReLeaf. Summer is the time our Westwood Nursery is buzzing with activity as thousands of native seedlings start their journey to maturity under the attentive and loving care of our dedicated nursery staff and volunteer team. Amongst these ‘babies’ are paddock trees destined for the Adelaide Hills to continue the longterm endeavour of creating large areas of new habitat for birds. Also being raised at our nursery are trees that in years to come will provide vital food and shelter for the endangered south-eastern red-tailed black cockatoo.

While it seems that our society is becoming increasingly focused on short-term actions and priorities, planting trees is an incredible act of hope and dedication to future generations of people and animals.

The long-term commitment that so many of you make to our environment through your involvement with Trees For Life is truly inspiring and we hope

it continues with future generations of supporters.

Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to grow seedlings through our Tree Scheme over summer. We know what a commitment it is to raise these seedlings and wish you the best of luck, especially all our first time growers.

It certainly has been a busy and challenging year for us all. As we write, many South Australians are at home in lockdown. We sincerely hope by the time you read this the current COVID-19 outbreak is contained and you're able to have time to relax and enjoy the company of family and friends. If you haven’t already had a chance to read our 2019-20 Annual Report, available on our website, we strongly encourage you to discover the positive impact we’ve achieved together.

Thank you for your incredible support this year and please stay well. 

IN THIS ISSUE…

CONTACT US

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A WORLD OF PROMISE

ReLeaf is a production of Trees For Life

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SMALL CHANGE = BIG IMPACT

Editor: Sam Catford Email: samc@treesforlife.org.au

4 REVITALISING PRIVATE CONSERVATION IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5

FAMILY LEGACY IN PARIS CREEK

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BULOKE FOR THE FUTURE

Printing: Finsbury Green 100% Recycled Carbon Neutral IS014001 Environment Management Systems Cover Photo: South-eastern red-tailed black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne) in flight by Luke Leddy.

10 DEDICATION ACROSS THE DECADES 12 Christmas cards and Farewell Martina 13 What's happening

Trees For Life 5 May Tce, Brooklyn Park 5032 P: 08 8406 0500 E: info@treesforlife.org.au W: treesforlife.org.au

14 What’s on 15 In the spotlight: Buloke Mistletoe Trees For Life acknowledges the traditional Custodians of our land and waters and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. We acknowledge and respect the deep spiritual connection and relationship that First Nations have to Country.

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A WORLD OF PROMISE

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ow, more than ever, we need to grow to restore what we have lost and bring hope for our future.

Our ability to grow plants that will build resilient and diverse natural systems is vital.

That’s why our Betty Westwood Nursery continues to be as important now as it was when first established almost twenty years ago.

It’s where we witness the birth of thousands of new lives destined to return to their homes across South Australia.

Under the expert eye of our Nursery Manager Flora, assisted by her team of trained staff and volunteers, native seedlings are nurtured and cared for as they grow. For our Nursery Team it's a labour of love.

Our nursery is divided into sections to support each stage of growth.

Having the right conditions for seeds to germinate or cuttings to strike roots is crucial to their survival.

Just as we like to prepare young people as they transition into adulthood, seedlings also undergo careful preparation before they leave the nursery. Our hope is that this good start in life will give them the

best chance to grow into strong and resilient ‘youngsters’ who can then make the journey to their homes across South Australia, ready to begin their new life.

These baby plants are in good hands; as a specialist nursery, we have the expertise in growing a greater variety of native plant species than conventional nurseries.

Over the decades our nursery has built a reputation for excellence and each year grows 100,000 seedlings from 200 different species. Seeds are sourced from 42 different provenance regions across South Australia.

Thanks to our supporters the nursery was able to respond to the devastating bushfires of last summer, New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) on Christmas Bush (Bursaria spinosa)

by Samantha Jones.

EVERY DONATION OF $35 CAN PROVIDE TUBES FOR 300 SEEDLINGS How you can help Bring Trees To Life

$897

can fund a day trip for two staff to collect cuttings.

$520

can fund soil, fertiliser and water for 5,000 seedlings.

$300

can purchase a heat mat and thermostat.

$180

can fund tubes and tube crates for 1,000 seedlings.

$100

can provide a volunteer with essential equipment for a year.

$60

can provide 1,000 sowing trays.

$35

can provide tubes for 300 seedlings.

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growing thousands of extra seedlings for Bushfire Recovery.

This Christmas we’re inviting you to join us on the journey to Bring Trees To Life.

By donating to our Christmas Appeal you can give native seedlings their best chance of survival and herald a new year of hope for all of us.  PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TODAY TO HELP OUR SEEDLINGS GET A GOOD START IN LIFE. TO HELP BRING TREES TO LIFE YOU CAN DONATE ON OUR WEBSITE OR CALL US ON 08 8406 0500.

IKEA Adelaide’s Sustainably Wall.

SMALL CHANGE = BIG IMPACT

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e have been fortunate to find a kindred spirit in IKEA Adelaide who share our love of nature and a desire to take action for this land we all love. Over the past couple of months they have supported our fundraising efforts by featuring Trees For Life on their Sustainability Wall to promote the important work we do.

Customers visiting the store have the opportunity to make a donation to Trees For Life via Tap and Go terminals as well as through a link in their online newsletter. Every $2 raised can help plant trees and bring our land back to life.

There are exciting things ahead for our partnership with IKEA Adelaide. As it grows, we look forward to working together to make things better at home for us and for our precious native plants and animals.

IKEA Adelaide is very excited to partner with Trees For Life and support their work in the revegetation of our native landscapes. For many, including several IKEA co-workers, the devastation of the bushfires that affected parts of our state 12 months ago provides a constant reminder of the effects of climate change. At a local community level, IKEA Adelaide is passionate about restoring our landscapes, providing much needed habitat for both flora and fauna. At a global level, IKEA is committed to enabling the many people to live a better life within the limits of our planet through healthy and sustainable living, being circular and climate positive and championing fair and inclusive communities. We are proud to support the amazing work done by Trees For Life and their exceptional team of volunteers.

– Tim Kinchington Sustainability Leader, IKEA Adelaide. 

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REVITALISING PRIVATE CONSERVATION IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

By Amelia Hurren Program Manager Bush For Life

BELOW: The Schofield's Paris Creek property was placed under a Heritage Agreement in 1990.

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he Native Vegetation Heritage Agreement program began 40 years ago with the aim of protecting native ecosystems and habitat on private land. To date, over 1,600 Heritage Agreements protect 1.8 million hectares across South Australia. Initially, Heritage Agreement landholders were supported with technical advice, fencing and grants but, over the years, the support and incentives have all but disappeared. A recent report1 highlighted the need to refresh the Heritage Agreement program in SA and in 2019, funding was allocated by the State Government for the ‘Revitalising Private Conservation in South Australia’ program.

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Trees For Life is part of a coalition of conservation and farming organisations delivering this program, providing existing and aspiring Heritage Agreement owners with the opportunity to access advice and grants to plan and undertake nature conservation works on their properties. The aim is to expand the extent and quality of protected areas of native vegetation on private land in South Australia.

We have played a major role in supporting Heritage Agreement landholders over many years. A number of our Bush For Life sites are under agreements, with our volunteers working alongside landholders to care for these areas.

We were also highlighted as a key resource for Heritage Agreement landholders in the previously mentioned report, with 41% of those surveyed mentioning Trees For Life as a source of support and information.

We’re thrilled to be able to continue supporting Heritage Agreement landholders through our new Heritage Agreement Outreach officer, Bec O’Leary.

Bec is based in the Clare Valley and, along with her counterpart hosted by Livestock SA, will be available to assist Heritage Agreement landholders with technical support and advice about managing bushland, controlling threats and applying for grants. Bec will also be able to assist anyone who is interested in protecting their land under a Heritage Agreement.

Landholders who do not currently have a Heritage Agreement are encouraged to participate by submitting a simple application to agree to protect important native vegetation and habitat on their land. For more information please contact us on 08 8406 0500 or visit: revitalisingconservationsa.org.au.

This program is funded by the Government of South Australia and led by Nature Foundation SA in partnership with Conservation SA, Nature Conservation Society of SA, Livestock SA and Trees For Life. 

1) A Natural Legacy. Revitalising private land conservation in South Australia for nature, people and thriving rural landscapes.

LEFT TO RIGHT:

Ned Schofield, his grandfather Stan Schofield (Paris Creek property owner), with Stan's daughter Liz Schofield (Ned’s Mum).

FAMILY LEGACY IN PARIS CREEK

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hen Stan Schofield first began milking cows on his Paris Creek farm in the 1950’s a 25 hectare patch of bush that had somehow avoided being cleared by previous owners was managed like the other paddocks.

Fast forward 40 years, after some convincing from his daughters, farmer Stan Schofield placed the property under one of the early Heritage Agreements in 1990. Since then, the bush has been fenced off from cattle and a recent audit showed it is home to almost 120 native plants, ranging from giant stringybarks to endangered orchids and native birdlife from tiny wrens to nesting wedgetail eagles.

The bushland is an important part of the Schofield’s farming enterprise providing shade and shelter for the stock. Stan, who still runs beef cattle on the farm, said the paddock was also an excellent windbreak for livestock in adjoining paddocks.

“There really wasn’t much feed value in there when we were grazing it and today the property is much better with the scrub than without it,” he said.

The native bushland is also managed for its conservation values with the support of Bush For Life staff and volunteers since becoming a Bush For Life site in 2000.

Mr Schofield’s daughter Lizzie regularly works to clear invading weeds from the bush assisted by volunteers. “This patch of land brings people who enjoy nature together,” she said. “We work hard to maintain it, but it’s a labour of love.

Sitting quietly in the bush watching birds and observing plants is good for the soul. There’s a million hectares of cleared farmland around here but this little patch is like so few others.

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“Sitting quietly in the bush watching birds and observing plants is good for the soul. There’s a million hectares of cleared farmland around here but this little patch is like so few others.

“We need more landholders to be brave like Dad and leave something for future generations.” 

Reference: Going native. (2020, August).

The Courier, Mt Barker pg 22.

BULOKE FOR THE FUTURE RESTORING HABITAT FOR ENDANGERED COCKIES

By Cassie Hlava Habitat Officer, Southeastern Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo

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he endangered south-eastern red-tailed black cockatoo1 is known for being a fussy eater. Restoring habitat for these fussy feeders is even more of a challenge when one of its food trees is among the most difficult trees to revegetate.

Since 2018, Trees For Life has been playing an important role in restoring habitat for this charismatic species as part of the Australian Government funded 'Communities helping Cockies' project.

So far, we’ve improved the condition of feeding habitat by removing weeds across 600 hectares of habitat and planting 4,000 stringybark2 and buloke3 food trees. We’ve also planted 10,000 associated native plants. By including these native species which naturally occur in stringybark and buloke woodlands our plantings will provide much needed habitat for many other native species. Our Seed Bank, Westwood Nursery and Tree Scheme volunteer growers have all played an important role in collecting seed and propagating seedlings for this project.

Until now, restoration efforts have focused largely on stringybark, as the sandy soils they grow on are more readily available for revegetation and the trees produce food for the cockatoos in as little as ten years.

Therefore, a significant component of our habitat project is propagating and planting buloke seedlings. The

RIGHT: The next generation of buloke ready to grow strong.

buloke is a casuarina which produces seed in cones. Only the female of the buloke tree produces cones, although some trees have male and female characteristics. In late summer and early autumn there’s only a brief window where the seed is available and many red-tails will switch from their staple food source of stringybark

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to the larger and more nutritious buloke seed.

In South Australia, buloke naturally grows on Potaruwutij and Jardwadjali country on heavy clay loam soils close to the Victorian border around Frances, Hynam and Bordertown.

This also happens to be some of the most valuable farming land in the

state. Most remaining buloke occurs as scattered paddock trees and these trees are disappearing at an alarming rate4. With less than three per cent of buloke trees remaining, the loss of these trees has contributed significantly to the decline of redtails. This means we urgently need to plant more.

Finding buloke planting sites is not easy. In the first year of the project we were planting bulokes on cleared roadsides and any other available public land. In the second year several private landholders have come on board. We’ve found some ideal sites where stands of mature bulokes have been fenced off but young trees are not regenerating. By planting seedlings, we’re ensuring these scarce patches of feeding habitat are regenerating for the future.

Jess and Nick Livingston, with their children Zoe and Archie, moved to the south east from Tasmania in 2019. Shortly after settling in to their property near Frances, Jess contacted Trees For Life after noticing our flyer advertising the Communities helping Cockies project in the local pub. Jess had never seen a red-tailed blackcockatoo before but was keen to help this local endangered species.

“We live on a farm – approximately 1,300 acres – in Frances which is in the south east of South Australia, between Bordertown and Naracoorte.

The property is a privately owned farm with a mix of cropping ground and light bush, grazing country,” Jess says. “We moved to the property in December 2019 and within six weeks we were in touch with Cassie from Trees For Life to learn more about the red-tails project and see how we could get involved. Like all good things … we heard about the project initially at The Frances Hotel, our local pub! A flyer about the project caught my eye and

It was great to work with people knowledgeable in this field. then we got chatting with some other locals about the project and the plight of the red-tail black-cockatoos.”

“Another reason for us was to create a connection with the property for our children. They are both interested in the environment and it was great to be able to involve them in something which they can see from infancy … and we can watch as the trees grow and develop.”

Normally it takes about 12 months to plan a revegetation project, but Jess was adamant that she wanted to start straight away. Our Westwood Nursery, along with the Southern Ground nursery in Kingston, had good success propagating the bulokes which meant we had plenty of trees ready to be

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planted. Although Jess and Nick were already keen to restore the native vegetation on their property, learning more about the red-tails and their habitat has been an important part of the process.

“It was great to work with people knowledgeable in this field. Cassie came and we went around the property and looked at the possible sites and options that we could go with. We selected planting along a boundary fence and intend to interplant to make it into a bit of a wind break as well in the future, with other flowering natives which will also support other bird life. I have learnt a lot more about the red-tails throughout this project,” Jess says.

Luckily Nick is a fencing pro and got the fence up in no time. The whole family were putting the finishing touches on the wiring as our planting team arrived. In just three months they fenced off a hectare of their property and planted 200 bulokes.

The bulokes have been planted at least eight metres apart to ensure they have enough space to grow into large and productive trees. Jess says they plan to continue their restoration efforts in years to come. “The project has also afforded us the opportunity to grow on from this initial planting.

We’re planning to add some interplantings and some additional individual trees throughout the property. “

Seven year old Zoe was keen to help plant the seedlings and enjoyed getting her hands dirty, while her five year old brother Archie found it fun to hide the seedlings behind fence posts.

Jess says it was important for this to be a family project with everyone involved from day one.

“Participating in the project was great. We were involved in the planting and fencing aspects. The team who completed the work were all very lovely and they involved our children in the aspects that they could help with, so that made it a really enjoyable process. For us it is a nice continuation of the work that has already been done here by previous owners … the custodians of the land that we hope to continue on with. “ Shortly after my first visit to Jess and Nick’s property, they spotted a flock of 20 red-tails feeding on their remnant buloke trees. “Future food security for the red-tails is important due to the loss of buloke in the area and, given red-tails already visit our property, this was a good opportunity to contribute. If you are considering getting involved, I would recommend getting in touch with Cassie to see how you can participate and support

the red-tails in a manner which suits your property.”

Zoe and Archie will have to be patient though as buloke trees are very slow growing and need to be at least 50 years old to be suitable for red-tails to feed on and 100 years to be the preferred size! This is why landholders like the Livingston’s are critical to the success of this project and the survival of the south-eastern red-tailed black-cockatoo.

However, planting this food tree now and in the right location is only part of the story.

Buloke trees are tough as nails but establishing seedlings is a challenge. The clay soils they grow on are a sticky wet mess in winter and in summer they set like concrete, cracking open to expose fragile roots.

It is likely that natural recruitment is episodic and only occurs in years when there is high rainfall which helps the trees to survive. To add to the challenge, the seedlings are also highly palatable and are grazed by rabbits, hares, kangaroos and stock.

Through our project we’re trialling a variety of techniques to improve seedling survival and growth rates.

Dale Simpson from Lucindale Paving has this great little machine which enables us to trial a variety of site

Future food security for the red-tails is important due to the loss of buloke in the area and, given red-tails already visit our property, this was a good opportunity to contribute.

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OPPOSITE PAGE: Dale Simpson with his

'machine'.

TOP MIDDLE: Buloke (Allocasuarina luehmannii) cone on a female tree by David Hinchcliffe.

TOP RIGHT: Zoe Livingston planting one of 200

bulokes on her family's property near Frances in the south east.

ABOVE: Buloke seedlings at our

Westwood Nursery.

preparation methods. Dale is as keen to see the project succeed as we are and always has ingenious ideas for techniques to try out. Last planting season we mixed sand in to the clay soil down to a depth of half a metre to help roots get established more quickly and eliminate the risk of cracking. Another trial involved ripping the soil in a criss-cross pattern for each individual tree with the idea that this method will shatter the soil and provide space for roots to penetrate and water to infiltrate.

We’ve also trialled carefully ripping the roots of highly productive mature female bulokes to encourage production of suckers. These suckers will be clones of the parent tree and therefore females guaranteed to produce seeds for the cockatoos to feed on.

These trials are helping us to establish buloke seedlings but now we need more land to plant them.

The large old trees won’t be around forever so it’s vital to plant the next generation of buloke now. We’re seeking more landholders like the Livingston’s to work with us in the south east to provide a future for these magnificent birds. 

GETTING TO KNOW OUR SOUTH-EASTERN RED-TAILED BLACKCOCKATOO

Can you help?

If you, or someone you know, can help the red-tails please contact Trees For Life on 08 8406 0500, or email info@treesforlife.org.au.

There are five sub-species of red-tailed black-cockatoo. The south-eastern red-tailed black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne) is only found in south-east South Australia and south-west Victoria. With an estimated population of only 1,500 birds, it is in danger of extinction.

The Communities helping Cockies project is supported by the Limestone Coast Landscape Board through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program and is delivered in partnership by BirdLife Australia, Trees For Life and Zoos SA.

Red-tailed black-cockatoos nest from spring through to autumn, mostly in dead red gums in farmed paddocks. The single egg is incubated by the female. The male spends his day feeding and returns in the evening to feed his mate. Nestlings are fed only by the female, who leaves the nest for longer periods as the chick develops.

Red-tailed black-cockatoos are 55-60 cm in length and may live in the wild for more than 30 years.

1) Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne 2) Eucalyptus arenacea, Eucalyptus baxteri 3) Allocasuarina luehmannii 4) Koch P. 2019. Habitat extent mapping and rates of habitat change for the 2003 – 2017 period across feeding and nesting resources for the South-eastern Red-tailed BlackCockatoo. Report to the South Eastern Red-tailed Black-Cockatoo recovery team.

Future Ecosystems.

Unlike other sub-species of red-tailed black-cockatoo the south-eastern sub-species is an ecological specialist, feeding almost entirely on the seeds of brown and desert stringybark (Eucalyptus baxteri and Eucalyptus arenacea) and seasonally (January to March) on buloke (Allocasuarina luehmannii). The distribution and flowering patterns of the cockatoo’s preferred food trees determines where the birds occur throughout the range from year to year.

South-eastern red-tailed black-cockatoos use their left foot almost exclusively to feed; interestingly, red-tails from the Northern Territory, which feed on the ground, use both feet.

Source: redtail.com.au

TOP: South-eastern red-tail black-cockatoo

family by Emily Fearn.

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DEDICATION ACROSS THE DECADES

By Claire Bowman

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hree decades ago, in 1991, Trees For Life volunteer grower Dean Schubert offered his landscaping supplies depot in Clare as a place for volunteers to collect their growing materials for the Tree Scheme. That year, several hundred volunteers picked up more than 4,000 boxes of soil and packets of native seed from his depot in the Clare Valley to grow trees for local landholders through the summer.

This November, at the end of a strange and challenging year, and as Trees For Life’s 40th anniversary approaches, Dean was also preparing for his own anniversary: his 30th depot day.

Our 750th member, Dean spent several years as a volunteer grower before becoming volunteer depot manager. After nine years, Dean relocated the depot to his property where it still runs every November, under the weathered branches of towering gum trees – some of the biggest eucalypts in the Clare Valley, several hundred years old.

Dean’s interest in the natural world started young, as it does with so many of our volunteers. “I just started growing trees because I’ve got an interest in trees and nature and birdlife and everything else. As a kid I grew up doing all those things [in nature] that pretty near all kids would dream to do.”

“My father was one of those people who got out there and did those things,” Dean tells me. As we talk I realise he’s cut from a similar cloth, a ‘doer’. He’s worked on various projects over the years on his and his neighbours’ property, and along the old railway line that’s now the

RIGHT: Clare Tree Scheme Depot Manager, Dean Schubert (right) with grower Ben Naughton (left).

Riesling Trail. Dean is modest about the difference he’s making. “I just did it because I wanted to”, he tells me, matter-of-factly. Like all our volunteers, he shies away from praise, only looking for greener landscapes and hoping to inspire more action.

For Dean and many others, volunteering means more than just the trees planted. "I have made a tremendous amount of friends out of all this,” he said. People like Dean make “all this” possible by spending many decades helping create a welcoming

I have made a tremendous amount of friends out of all this.

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LEFT: In celebration of three decades of dedication by Dean and the local volunteers.

and dedicated community. It’s a community he seems pleased to be a part of and I could hear his fondness for the growers he’s met through the years.

“I can recall some volunteer growers who have been with us for a long, long time,” he says, “… a chappy who lived in an elderly citizens unit. He had almost no room, and yet he still would take five, ten boxes a year and grow them in this little patch outside his front door against the fence. He’d come in and he’d get out of the car with his crutches!”

Another year, volunteers raised extra trees for Dean’s property. The Brown Hill Rotary Club was assigned to grow for him, and they promptly asked to come and help him plant.

“About 15 people from the Rotary Club turned up, we planted the 600 trees in about an hour and a half or two hours because I had it all ready. And then we had a barbecue lunch and we did a car crawl around the Clare Valley! They were thrilled to bits and I was thrilled to bits.” The trees they planted have grown to form a 15 metre tall barrier between his property and the road.

“I had all the schools in the midnorth – Clare, Blyth, Burra, Brinkworth, Farrell Flat – they all had Trees For Life kits!”

From the old to the very young, Dean’s early days saw people from around the Clare Valley arriving at his depot to collect their summer growing projects.

And still today, many hands and hearts combine to ensure our Tree Scheme operates smoothly and hundreds of thousands of trees are planted across South Australia each year. As Dean prepared to welcome more volunteers this year, seasoned growers and new recruits alike, he was quick to deflect any attention towards the work of others.

Dean told me his wife had always been working alongside him in his volunteer efforts. He had appreciative words for the hard-working Tree Scheme staff too. “They do a mighty job. They’re the ones who make it work. We’re just the ones who do the last part of it … it happens all down Trees For Life’s end. They get the orders placed, then they work out who gets what and who goes where, then they’ll just let me know roughly how many are coming.”

“I’ve seen the reports on the Adelaide depots … they must work fantastically down there!”

When I spoke to him he was still in preparation, but I could already see Dean’s depot, beneath the old gums, would be a cheerful affair. A 30 year old hand painted sign, given to Dean on his first depot day, would welcome the volunteer growers to his property and tempt curious passers-by. In

previous years, people have stopped in to see what’s happening. Dean said, “They’ll drive past and they’ll see the Trees For Life sign and some activity with people and they’ll do a U-ey and come back and say, ‘What do I do to get some trees?!’”

There will be patio umbrellas and cold drinks. People will talk, connect, share. That’s always been the way with our volunteers. “Back in those days we had the tipper load of potting mix on the big sheet of plastic. As people came in they’d hop out of their cars and help box up the next guy’s [soil].

And that’s just how it worked. That’s just Trees For Life people.”

“Trees For Life people”, like Dean and all the growers that collect from him, are what has kept our Tree Scheme strong for nearly four decades. They’re the force that has made a difference to our landscapes, one seedling at a time.

Supporters are the lifeblood of Trees For Life, staunchly dedicated and hardworking. It’s been said many times in many ways, but that truth remains as true as ever. Now, as we finish one of our most challenging years yet, we prepare to celebrate four decades of Trees For Life. And we only made it here because of the thousands of people who, year in and year out, decade after decade, come sun, rain, pandemic or fire, resiliently continue to care for our land. 

I just started growing trees because I’ve got an interest in trees and nature and birdlife and everything else.

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FAREWELL MARTINA

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e farewell Martina Thompson who leaves us after nearly 10 years. Martina is well known and loved by many supporters for her extraordinary knowledge about our organisation and her patient and friendly service.

She played a vital role in the Tree Scheme and Administration teams in a number of different roles.

We miss you Martina and wish you well with your future. 

CHRISTMAS CARDS

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ur Earth Greetings Christmas cards are now available. We sold out last year, so make sure you get yours before they disappear. Choose from two designs; Flame Robin (left) and Owl & Mistletoe (right). Only $14 for a box of 8 cards (plus postage).

The cards are designed and made in Australia using 100% post-consumer recycled paper printed with lush vegetable based ink. Earth Greetings donate 5% of all profits to Trees For Life and have supported us for over a decade. We’re very grateful to Heide and the Earth Greetings team for their support and for taking action for the land we all love.

Order your cards from our online shop at treesforlife.org.au, or pick up from our office at 5 May Tce, Brooklyn Park (Mon to Fri, 9-5pm). You can also call us on 08 8406 0500 to order over the phone.

Please note: COVID-19 restrictions may impact all orders and there may be postal delays. 

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WHAT'S HAPPENING AT TREES FOR LIFE?

HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSURES

Our office will be closed from 12pm Thursday 24 December 2020. We’ll reopen 9am Monday 4 January 2021.

Our Board, management team and staff wish all our members, supporters and volunteers a safe, happy and healthy summer holiday season.

OUR BOARD

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e welcome Michael Cornish as a new board member.

Michael is a public policy professional with specialist skills and degrees in economics, law, advocacy, and conflict management.

He has worked in economic consultancy and international aid project management roles, as a policy advisor for a Federal Parliamentarian and lecturer in economics and social sciences. Michael is passionate about public service and the environment.

Phil Donaldson is now Vice President, replacing Morgan Muirhead. Janine Lynch continues as Treasurer and Stuart Collard, Andrew Dolley, and John Virtue were all re-elected. You can read about our board members at treesforlife.org.au/ people. 

VALE KENT TRELOAR

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he Trees For Life community were very saddened by the death of Kent Treloar earlier this year – long time Depot Manager and contributor to our revegetation activities on Yorke Peninsula.

Kent was a nature legend on Yorke Peninsula and his knowledge, passion and generosity will be deeply missed. 

SEED BANK: PERMITS AND SEED COLLECTION

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arge-scale restoration projects like Tree Scheme, Paddock Tree Project and Direct Seeding, as well as Westwood Nursery, all rely on seed carefully collected by hand. Each year, volunteers join our Seed Bank staff on seed collection missions, gathering the vital seeds that will grow into habitat for natives, strengthen our soil, air and water, and bring sanctuaries of green for us to enjoy.

We’re granted an annual permit to collect the seed we need to support this restoration. The permit is issued to our Seed Bank Manager, Daniel, who trains and supervises our volunteers to collect on our behalf. If you’re a volunteer who’d like to help us collect vital seed this year, it’s essential that you contact us to register for our ‘Introduction to Seed Collection’ and ‘Advanced Seed Collection’ workshops in order to collect under this permit.

If you’re interested in volunteering with our Seed Bank please see the dates for our workshops under ‘What’s On’ for ‘Tree Scheme and Nursery’ on the opposite page.  13

GROWERS: HELP IS AT HAND he growing season is underway, and you will have received your manuals, seed and soil and be preparing to tend your seedlings. We’re already looking forward to seeing the fruits of your labour being planted out in winter to restore land across South Australia.

However, as many of our experienced growers will tell you, sometimes things don’t go to plan.

From seed failure to insect attack to unforeseen illness or injury, plenty of things can happen to throw you off your growing groove. Help is at hand here in the office, we’re available Monday to Friday (9am-5pm) to offer advice and support. We can replace seed until 15 February in the event of seed failure, or talk you through solutions to many other problems you might face throughout the season.

As a volunteer grower you’re an essential part of our mission to restore South Australian landscapes, and we want to make sure you have all the support you need to make your growing season rewarding and enjoyable. Please call us if you run into an issue – sooner is better than later when it comes to keeping your seedlings growing strong. 

BUSH FOR LIFE EVENTS

WHAT'S ON Trees For Life office closes

12pm Thursday 24 December 2020

Trees For Life office reopens

9am Monday 4 January 2021

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer on one of our Bush For Life sites, or would like to learn more about managing your own bushland, come along to a Bushcare Workshop. Workshops are free for members. Please note details correct at time of printing but can be subject to change.

BUSHCARE WORKSHOPS

TREE SCHEME AND NURSERY

Victor Harbor

Friday 19 February

Marino

Thursday 11 March

Modbury

Saturday 27 March

Blackwood

Saturday 10 April

Adelaide

Thursday 29 April

Introduction to Seed Collection Workshop – Southern Adelaide Hills

9 December

Introduction to Seed Collection Workshop – Northern Adelaide Hills

3 February

Volunteer grower seed replacement closes

15 February

Volunteer grower back-up seedlings due at Westwood Nursery

25, 26 & 27 March Note: Now Thu, Fri & Sat

BUSH ACTION TEAM DAYS DECEMBER 2020

Volunteer grower back-up seedlings available at Westwood Nursery

29 April – 1 May Note: Now Thu, Fri & Sat

THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS…

Pasadena

Friday 4 December

Hillbank

Tuesday 8 December

Vista

Thursday 10 December

Belair

Saturday 12 December

Upper Hermitage

Wednesday 16 December

Eden Hills

Friday 18 December

Waitpinga

Tuesday 22 December

SUMMER 2021 BUSH ACTION TEAM DAYS The location of the summer activities is decided each week according to the weather forecast.

Register your interest for more information.

Email BFL@treesforlife.org.au or call 08 8406 0500 during business hours.

Wednesday 3 February Saturday 6 February Wednesday 10 February Wednesday 17 February Saturday 20 February Wednesday 24 February Wednesday 3 March Saturday 6 March Wednesday 10 March Wednesday 17 March Saturday 20 March South Australian Government entities not shown above include Green Adelaide and the Department for Environment and Water.

Wednesday 24 March Wednesday 31 March

COVID-19 NOTICE: Due to ongoing uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 restrictions, please check the advertised dates closer to the event by calling our office or checking for updates on our website and Facebook page.

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In the spotlight:

BULOKE MISTLETOE “Meet me under the mistletoe …”

T

his festive season we’re celebrating mistletoe.

The buloke featured in our story on page 6 is the main host plant for the buloke mistletoe (Amyema linophylla ssp orientalis).

In South Australia this species mainly grows on buloke1 which can be found in the South East and Murraylands. It also grows on black oak2 in the outback and arid lands. Like its main host buloke, this species is also threatened and regarded as rare in South Australia.

Buloke mistletoe can be difficult to spot as it mimics the muted greyish colour and needle-like foliage of its host, blending in seamlessly. Yet in summer, its presence is revealed by a

spectacular display of beautiful large coral red flowers.

Like other mistletoes it is a hemiparasite and attaches itself to the host plant which it relies upon for water and minerals. However, it does photosynthesise and is able to make its own sugars and other carbohydrates.

Mistletoes often get a bad rap but they contribute nutrients back to soil when they drop leaves, creating highly productive patches of bushland.

Flowering and fruiting mistletoes provide important summer feeding habitat for a vast array of insects, birds and arboreal mammals. The buloke mistletoe is an important host plant for caterpillars of the Satin Azure butterfly3, which is one of the most stunning

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iridescent blue butterflies you’ll find in South Australia.

Most mistletoes depend on the services of the Mistletoebird4 to spread their seeds. This striking black and red bird loves to eat mistletoe berries and, with some luck, manages to deposit the sticky seeds on to a branch of a host tree.

Next time you have the pleasure of wandering through a buloke woodland, see if you can spot this fascinating plant. 

1) Allocasuarina luehmannii 2) Casuariana pauper 3) Ogyris amyrillis 4) Dicaeum hirundinaceum