2024 Paddock Tree Project

Gunning District Landcare's 'Paddock Tree Project' aims to re-establish paddock trees in the Gunning region. Through this project, landholders request 1 to 25 trees and guards per property, and are required to make a co-contribution of around $20 or $25 per guard depending on the size of the guard, as well as supply their own steel pickets. There is a saving of around $35 per guard through this subsidised project! 

GDL has run the Paddock Tree Project two years in a row; with 276 native trees planted in 2022 and 408 in 2023. We are grateful to have recieved another round of funding from the Biala Wind Farm Community Grant to run another Project in 2024. Scattered paddock trees are vital in the Australian landscape for wildlife, ecological health, and productivity. You can read more about all these important benefits here.

Past funding by Local Land Services, the Biala Wind Farm Community Grant, and contributions from local landholders have made these projects possible at a low cost to participants. For the 2024 round, expressions of interest close on 21 April 2024, with trees and guards to be distributed in Autumn 2024. Click here to fill out the expression of interest form online. 

For inquiries, please get in touch: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; 0488 027 653. 

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Benefits of scattered paddock trees

Check out the excellent resources on this topic offered by ANU Sustainable Farms.

 

Benefits for wildlife

Scattered paddock trees provide an important function for our wildlife including:

- Habitat hollows for many birds, mammals, such as micro bats, reptiles, frogs, insects and spiders;

- A stepping stone for animal movement between patches of native vegetation;

- Important fauna food sources like nectar, foliage and insects;

- Increasing species’ resilience to the changing climate.

About one third of agricultural land in the Australian temperate zone contains scattered paddock trees. Most of these trees are very old and there are often insufficient young trees growing to take their place. Even dead and unhealthy scattered paddock trees are important as they provide homes and shelter for wildlife. The big concern is that in 40 years all of these paddock trees could be gone.

 

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Benefits for your farm

Connected, resilient environments lead to healthy and productive farms. Planting native trees and protecting natural areas and waterways can provide numerous production benefits, including: providing shade for stock, sheltering stock and soil from strong winds, improving water quality and encouraging native pollinators and species that provide natural insect control. Scattered paddock trees provide a range of benefits for productivity including:

- Pest control. Bats and birds that roost in trees can significantly reduce the number of insect pests;

- Stock and crops thrive better with shelter. Trees give protection from the wind and extreme temperatures;

- Salinity management. Trees can reduce waterlogging and dryland salinity problems;

- Improved soil structure. Wind and water erosion is reduced with remnant vegetation;

- Better quality soil. Soil fertility improves as leaf litter and animal droppings break down, bringing nutrients to pastures from deep soil beyond the reach of the pasture root zone;

- Natural regeneration. Mature trees provide the seeds to grow young trees and create the right conditions to grow native grasses and shrubs;

- Bee products. Valuable for apiary, honey, bees wax and pollination, although feral bees can exclude native fauna from tree hollows.

 

This project was supported by South East Local Land Services through funding provided by the NSW Government as well as the Biala Wind Farm Community Grant.