It may have been an especially dry spring season for some, but these seedlings have dug their roots extra deep.
About 90 per cent of seedlings planted at Kingsley and Christine Smith’s farm, “The Mount” at Dandaragan, continue to grow despite the challenging conditions.
Over 90% seedlings survive & thrive at Kingsley & Christine Smith’s farm at Dandaragan #biodiversity @NACC_NRM pic.twitter.com/tEZa4WxiNU
— Rodger Walker (@naccjbaysouth) November 20, 2015
NACC Natural Resource Management Officer Rodger Walker assessed the six hectares of creekline revegetation with Kingsley and Christine recently, and was pleasantly surprised at the results.
The landholders had to wait until the last week of July to start planting their 6000 seedlings after a dry start to winter.
Luck was on their side however, as 70mm fell within a week of planting to ease the stress of transplant of the new seedlings.
Some are up to 60cm tall now with the Hakeas and Paperbarks a stand out. Insect damage has been very minor so far with no signs of kangaroo or rabbit grazing. Rushes and sedges planted have not done too badly either, considering soil moisture is lower than expected in the creek.
The revegetation efforts are being undertaken to revitalise a tributary of the Minyulo Brook, which runs through the Smith’s farm. The creekline was fenced last year with a NACC Rivers and Wetlands incentive grant.
The future for the site is hopefully a diverse native plant dominated ecosystem which supports our native wildlife and a healthy waterway with small semi-permanent freshwater pools.
The challenges of summer heat await the seedlings as with all revegetation sites in the Northern Agricultural Region, and we hope for the best with their survival.
