Landcare Week is fast approaching, and to celebrate, Southern New England Landcare would like to recognise the many local Landcare heroes making a difference across our region.

Do you know an individual, family, volunteer group, school, or community member who is championing Landcare? We would love to share their story.

Whether it's a successful project, a dedicated volunteer, a great photo, or someone whose efforts deserve recognition, we'd like to hear from you.

Please send your stories and photos to Beth, or call 02 6772 9123.

Help us shine a spotlight on the people working to care for our landscapes, communities, and natural environment.

You can also take Landcare Australia's Survey to share your story on a national level here. 

Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan has welcomed more than $1.7 million in funding for Landcare programs across the electorate under the latest round of the NSW Government’s Landcare Enabling Program.

Local projects secured support through the program, with funding to be shared between North West Regional Landcarers Inc in Bingara ($922,561) and the New England Landcare Network in Armidale ($830,899).

Mr Moylan said Landcare continued to play a vital role in delivering practical outcomes across regional communities.

“Landcare succeeds because it is driven by local people with local on the ground knowledge delivering practical solutions for our communities,” Mr Moylan said.

“This funding will help strengthen local networks, support volunteers and continue important projects across the Northern Tablelands.

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Australia’s environmental restoration efforts are accelerating, but a critical constraint threatens their success: the national supply of native seed is not keeping pace with rapidly growing demand.

A Native Seed Supply Forum, held in Uralla, NSW from 27–29 May 2026, brought together 51 of Australia’s key government agencies, scientific experts, and native seed suppliers to address mounting risks to large‑scale restoration programs caused by seed shortages, long production timelines, and limited industry capacity.

“As government‑directed restoration initiatives expand — driven by carbon markets, biodiversity investment, and environmental repair programs — demand for native seed had increased sharply,” said Uralla’s BioBank Seed principal, Mr Benjamin Field.

“However, this growth had not been matched by coordinated planning or investment in seed supply systems, and native seed had emerged as a critical but largely overlooked bottleneck in restoration delivery,” he said

Unlike many commercial inputs, native seed cannot be purchased on demand.

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Nominations are now open for the 2026 State and Territory Landcare Awards.

The Landcare Awards recognise climate action, environmental leadership, sustainable agriculture, First Nations Peoples, women in landcare, youth, Coastcare, landcare innovation and more!

Nominate now

Local landholders have been taking part in a fully funded landscape rehydration program focussed on practical, on-farm approaches to improving water cycles, managing erosion, and building long-term landscape resilience.

A Field Day on 19 February 2026 and a two-day Boot Camp on 18-19 March 2026 were well attended, informative and enjoyable, with participants learning how to read their landscape, understand water movement, and identify priority areas for action.

The program concludes with a Boots on Ground Day on 14 May 2026.

Southern New England Landcare CEO, Karen Zirkler, said this will be an equally interesting and practical day.

“Participants will see techniques such as rock and brush structures, and gully head cut stabilisation used, as well as participate in more hands-on learning,” said Karen.

“It will be a great opportunity to see the ideas learned applied on the ground,” she said.

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Southern New England Landcare is seeking a Local Landcare Coordinator to support and strengthen our network of community Landcare groups across the region.

This part-time role (61.25 hours per fortnight) is a fixed term contract through to 30 June 2027 and will focus on connecting and empowering volunteers, supporting project development, and building partnerships that contribute to healthy, productive landscapes and communities.

We are looking for someone who is organised, community-minded, and interested in sustainable agriculture and natural resource management, with strong communication and coordination skills.

For full details and application information, view the job advertisement here:


Please share this opportunity with your networks.

Now in its 32nd year, the State and Territory Landcare Awards stand as a prestigious biennial national Landcare Awards program.

The objective is to honour individuals, groups and organisations that are making outstanding contributions to caring for the environment in their local communities for the benefit of all Australians today, and for generations to come.

The 2026 State and Territory Landcare Awards stand as a prestigious biennial national Landcare Awards program. The Landcare Awards honour individuals, groups and organisations that are making outstanding contributions to caring for the environment in their local communities for the benefit of all Australians today, and for generations to come.

Nominating is free. You can nominate yourself, or you can nominate someone you know who should be recognised for their work to restore, enhance and protect the natural environment in their community.

The winners of the nine national Landcare Award categories in each State or Territory will advance as finalists to the 2027 National Landcare Awards.

You can nominate for any of these categories:

• Australian Government Landcare Innovation Award
• Australian Government Sustainable Agriculture Landcare Award
• Australian Government Individual Landcarer Award
• Australian Government Community Partnerships Landcare Award
• Coastcare Award
• First Nations Landcare Collaboration Award
• Women in Landcare Award
• Junior Landcare Award
• NextGen Landcare Award

Nomination close at 11.59pm AEST on Friday 31 July, 2026.

For more information and to nominate a contender NSW Landcare Awards

Image: 2025 National Landcare Award Winners. Courtesy of Landcare Australia.

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Southern New England Landcare hosted a successful two-day Landscape Rehydration Bootcamp in Uralla, delivered in partnership with the Mulloon Institute on 18–19 March 2026.

“Landholders are increasingly looking for practical ways to manage water, reduce erosion and build resilience into their landscapes,” said Elizabeth Rosser, Local Landcare Coordinator with Southern New England Landcare.

 “This bootcamp gave participants the opportunity to learn directly from experienced practitioners and start applying those principles to their own properties.”

Held at CSIRO Chiswick Research Farm, the bootcamp brought together more than 20 landholders from across the region for a mix of practical demonstrations, theory and hands-on learning focused on improving landscape function and water management.

Participants explored how water moves through the landscape and how simple, well-designed interventions can slow flows, reduce erosion and increase water retention.

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Armidale Urban Rivercare members and friends assisted with a Scout planting along Dumaresq Creek on 16 November. A highlight of the day was spotting a turtle laying eggs adjacent to the site — a reminder of the natural activity continuing in the area.

On 26 November, the group hosted a tour of its activities for Councillors from Armidale Regional Council. The group received very positive feedback following the visit. Many thanks to Angus, Bruce, Helen and Struan for organising and leading the day.

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On 20 February 2026, Southern New England Landcare (SNEL) proudly took part in the UNE Lifesaver Day (O’s Day), delivering a vibrant Koala Education Stall led by Koala Conservation Officer Thaw Zaw, with support from Janeen Robb, Landholder Management Agreement Officer.

Throughout the afternoon, the stall attracted strong interest from students, particularly those studying education and environmental fields.

We shared a wide range of koala conservation and SNEL educational materials, including:

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On Thursday 19 February, Southern New England Landcare hosted a Landscape Rehydration Field Day in partnership with the Mulloon Institute at Kentucky.

The event marked the first in a series of activities being delivered under the Armidale Regional Council and Uralla Shire Council Regional Drought Resilience Plan, funded through the Future Drought Fund.

More than 30 landholders attended from across the region, including one participant who travelled from Sydney. Landscape Planners Shari Pike and Annabel Manning from the Mulloon Institute facilitated the day.

“It was great to see such strong attendance and interest,” said Elizabeth Rosser, Local Landcare Coordinator with Southern New England Landcare.

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Southern New England Landcare now offers EFTPOS payments at our office and at our events, making it easier to pay for memberships, merchandise, workshop fees and other purchases.

As long as there is mobile phone service at the event location, we’ll be able to process card payments on site. Cash is still welcome, but card facilities are now available for added convenience.

We look forward to offering a smoother payment option at future events across the region.

Southern New England Landcare extends its congratulations to board members David Steller and Bryan Johnston, who were recognised at the Armidale Australia Day Awards for their outstanding contributions to the local community.

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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.

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2026 has been declared the Year of the Woman Farmer, celebrating the vital role women play across every level of agriculture in Australia. From station hands and managing family operations, to agribusiness leaders and CEOs shaping the future of the industry, women are driving innovation, resilience, and sustainability on and off the land.

Women contribute in diverse ways — working in the paddock, managing livestock, running farm-based businesses, leading research and development, and influencing policy and investment decisions. Their expertise and leadership are central to the strength of rural communities and the growth of Australian agriculture.

At Southern New England Landcare, our all-female staff team exemplifies this contribution every day, supporting landholders, fostering sustainable practices, and strengthening local communities.

This year is an opportunity to acknowledge women’s achievements, share their stories, and inspire the next generation to pursue careers in farming, agribusiness, and land management. Women are not just part of agriculture — they are shaping its future.

About this cause:

Koalas are an iconic species for Australia, but they are endangered due to habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, disease, vehicle strike, bushfires and dog attacks.

With your help, we can educate kids in the Armidale Region of Koala Significance (ARKS), about how to reduce these threats so that as a community, we can protect this beloved species for the enjoyment of all.

Koala Awareness Training Kits for Kids will provide resource materials we can take to events and school classroom sessions across the ARKS, to build understanding, knowledge and a sense of empowerment among our youth.

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As this is our final newsletter for 2025, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our members for being part of Southern New England Landcare this year.

Whether you’ve liked or shared a post, read the eNews, dropped into the office, passed on useful information, or joined us at events and workshops, your involvement makes a real difference.

Your support helps guide our work and keeps our community connected.

We’re already looking forward to what 2026 will bring.

We’ll be starting the year with World Wetland Day events in early February and continuing our work with landholders as we explore the Natural Capital space together.

A few other activities to keep an eye out for in 2026 include:

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Armidale Biodiversity Strategy Community Survey closes 14th December 2025

Armidale Regional Council is developing a Biodiversity Strategy to protect and enhance biodiversity across the local government area (Armidale, Guyra, Ben Lommond, Black Mountain, Ebor, Hillgrove and Wollomombi) while our towns and communities grow.

Biodiversity is the variety of plants, animals and ecosystems and it provides us with many benefits.

It supports clean air and water, helps control pests and diseases, stores carbon, and contributes to our health, wellbeing and the local character.

We want to hear from the people that live and work here so that we can harness local knowledge and values to make the Strategy useful and effective.

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Armidale Urban Rivercare Group, a sub-group of Southern New England Landcare Ltd, hosted a Creeklands Bus Tour on Wednesday 26th November 2025 to showcase more than two decades of ecological restoration along Dumaresq Creek in the Armidale urban area.

Councillors from Armidale Regional Council joined local Landcare leaders to visit key restoration sites, hear project stories on the ground, and discuss future opportunities to enhance the city’s green corridors.

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The Uralla Rivercare Group together with Southern New England Landcare are excited to bring renowned horticulturist and sustainability expert Jerry Coleby-Williams from Gardening Australia to the New England region this November, sharing practical water-saving solutions for urban and peri-urban gardens.

“We’ve all experienced drought and the water quality challenges that follow,” said Sheenah Turnbull from the Uralla Rivercare Group.

“Most people want to make the most of every drop of rainwater they can capture, and Jerry is the expert on rainwater catchment systems and urban biodiversity,” she said.

Best known as a presenter on ABC TV’s Gardening Australia, Jerry will deliver his engaging talk, “Whole of Site Water Saving – Making Every Drop Count”, across a series of events in Walcha, Uralla, Armidale and Guyra.

Drawing on more than two decades of experience designing and managing sustainable gardens, Jerry will demonstrate how a Whole of Site Water Management Plan can help households and small landholders capture, recycle, and reuse water efficiently.

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