Bush Regeneration
A record-breaking area of 4.9m hectares – an area larger than Denmark – has been destroyed in NSW this bushfire season, the largest area destroyed in the state since records began. As well as setting a record for area burned, this year’s fires have burnt through a large amount of forest (including rainforest) rather than grassland, putting our flora and fauna at much higher risk of becoming extinct.
Whilst nature has started its path of healing, we are stoked to be working alongside incredible local organisations such as National Parks, Milton Rural Landcare, Shoalhaven City Council and local Wildlife groups to deliver a phenomenal bush regeneration strategy that will leave our area even more beautiful and resilient than it was before the fires. Activities will focus around weed control, propagation (from my garden to your garden), native bush planting and rural acreage planting, and village planting (natives and edibles) in individual gardens and community areas. There will be loads of workshops, working bees, training and education sessions, and volunteer/citizen science opportunities for everyone. More info to follow via our newsletter and social media channels.
View our recent Cultural Burning Webcasts to find out how future catastrophic fires can be prevented.
Wildlife
Treading Lightly has been supportive to help our local wildlife that has been struggling so much with the ongoing drought and the fires. We have organised food, medical supplies, care pouches and wraps and logistical support for local wildlife carers, have supplied cameras on loan to gather data from local wildlife watering/feeding stations, and supported local refuges (East Lynne) and clinics (Shoalhaven Bat Clinic). As experts are now advising to dial back on providing emergency feeding, we are turning our attention to wildlife shelter through an integrated approach of (re)planting vegetation and nesting boxes where suitable.