eNews #2

• 12th February - Highland Wetlands Field Day (Guyra)
• 18th February - Understanding Natural Capital (Uralla)
• 19th February - Rehydrating Farm Landscapes Field Day
• 19th February - Understanding Natural Capital (Walcha)
• 25th February - Understanding Natural Capital (Armidale)
• 26th February - Understanding Natural Capital (Guyra)
• 18-19th March - Landscape Rehyrdation 2-day Bootcamp

Landholders in the Uralla and Armidale local government areas are invited to take part in a fully funded landscape rehydration program running from February to June 2026, delivered by Southern New England Landcare in partnership with the Mulloon Institute.

The program forms part of the Armidale Regional and Uralla Shire Councils’ Regional Drought Resilience Plan and focuses on practical, on-farm approaches to improving water cycles, managing erosion, and building long-term landscape resilience.

“This program is very much about learning by doing,” said Elizabeth Rosser, Local Landcare Coordinator for Southern New England Landcare.

“Participants will learn how to read their landscape, understand water movement, identify priority areas for action, and then see those ideas applied on the ground.”

Valued at more than $5,000 per participant, the program combines learning and hands-on activities.

The Armidale birdwatching group is an informal organisation of people who enjoy birdwatching. 

Regular outings occur on the first Sunday of the month except January; there are extra events as well. 

The meeting place is at the Armidale Visitor Information Centre Car Park, 82 Marsh Street, at 7:55 am prepared for departure at 8:00 am (both AEST and AEDT). 

Bring food (morning tea and sometimes lunch) and water, binoculars, sunscreen, hat and wear stout shoes; bring a picnic chair as many bush spots do not have facilities. 

All visitors are welcome. Newcomers wishing to join the group should contact Dr Stephen (Steve) Debus, or phone Shirley Cook: 0458 260 937 before the outing.  All visitors are welcome.

The Armidale Show is less than a month away.

This is a great opportunity to showcase some of the great native plants you have growing in your garden and so inspire others to include them in their own garden. 

The procedure is quite simple. On the computer go to Armidale Show 2025 and click on  2025 Schedules. Read the Conditions of Entry and you can print the general Entry Form. Details for the Flower section are in Section 20.

Click on Section 20 Horticulture- Cut Flowers  - this will take you to the page currently called Section 17- Cut and Decorative Flowers  ( a bit odd this but that is the one you want). Work down the page; the details you need are in Native Section, numbers 9-17.

NSW Weed Control Handbook 2025 (published by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development) is the state’s official, practical guide to managing invasive weeds in non-crop, aquatic and bushland situations. It provides up-to-date information on integrated weed management strategies, herbicide use and resistance, legal responsibilities under NSW biosecurity law, and control techniques for hundreds of priority weeds across the state. The 8th edition is widely used by land managers, councils, farmers, gardeners and environmental officers as a field reference to identify and plan weed control actions and support shared biosecurity outcomes in NSW.

If you would like a hard copy, visit the SNEL office or call 02 6772 912.

A digital copy can be downloaded here.

The Australian Plant Society's aim is to inspire all Australians to love, grow and conserve our native plants.

The Armidale and District Group is based on the Northern Tablelands of NSW. 

Our District

The Northern Tablelands is the narrow highlands area of the New England region, stretching from the Moonbi Range at Tamworth to the Queensland border. This region includes substantial areas 800m above sea-level, with a cold climate, distinctive vegetation and characteristic granitic, basaltic, sedimentary and metamorphic landscapes.

Working Bee

Our next working bee at the Arboretum is scheduled for Saturday 31^st January, from 9am to 12md.  Please note the changed day from Friday to Saturday.  In response to committee and member feedback We are trialling holding the working bees on the last Saturday morning of the month.

The next North Armidale Walking Tracks (NAWT) working bee will be on Sunday 1st February 2026 8.30 - 12.00 EDST

Please park back from the gate at the end of Blue Wren Road. We will set up a base inside the gate, in the shade.

There are a number of tasks to be undertaken, depending to some extent upon the weather: If we have a good number of starters we’ll “split the party”.

We look forward to seeing as many as possible.

Register to join Armidale Regional Council’s Clean Up Australia Day 2026. A great opportunity for community members and students to engage and volunteer, connect with others, and make a difference in our local environment!

Details of the event:

• 10am - 12pm, Sunday 1 March 2026
• starting at Civic Park and moving along the creeklands
• wear appropriate clothing, sturdy shoes/boots, sun hat and a smile ????
• bring work gloves, water bottle, sunscreen, hand sanitiser, and maybe a rug to sit on for morning tea and lunch - a sense of humour and willingness to meet new people!
• stay for a free sausage sizzle!

The nation’s premier on-farm event, Wilmot Field Day explores what’s possible at the intersection of productive agriculture, nature repair and decarbonisation.

Step through the gates to join a growing community of primary producers and supply chain partners for thought-provoking discussion, practical demonstrations and presentations from world leading speakers.

Discover how nature-positive farming is good for the environment, good for business and good for the community.

Delve into practical solutions for farm productivity, resilience and ecological health.

Share opportunities to accelerate Australian agriculture and your business as you connect with others across the sector.

Date: 4-5 March, 2026

Location: Wilmot Farm, 10544 Armidale Rd, Hernani NSW

For more information see the WFD website.

Puchase your ticket here via Humanitix