Bushland Restoration

The 3 R's of Bushland Restoration

Retain remnant indigenous vegetation.

Conserving existing natural areas should always be our first priority. In many regions, both urban and rural, there is little bushland remaining.

Regenerate where there is any potential for natural regeneration.

Where bushland remains but is degraded by things like weed invasion or grazing, regeneration should be the primary goal. Damaged bushland is still valuable and is capable of regenerating if given the right assistance. Native plant seed will still be stored in the soil, or will be able to reach the site from nearby bushland (often with the assistance of birds, other animals or the wind).

Replant only when there is no regeneration potential.

Planting is sometimes seen as a quick and easy solution to the challenge of restoring bush but it is not necessary where natural regeneration potential exists. Indeed, planting in such sites can work against the aims of restoration by interfering with regeneration.

There are some sites which are so highly degraded or altered that natural regeneration is unlikely. In this case planting can be useful but the plants should be grown from seeds or cuttings collected on or near the site to be planted.

Download the Guide

Download the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators Guide to the 3 R's of Bushland Restoration.

You can download Weed Control and Bushland Restoration information below.

Further Information

Bush Regeneration

What Is Bush Regeneration?

In the 1960s and 1970s Joan and Eileen Bradley developed a series of weed control and native vegetation recovery techniques through trial and error. Their work was the beginning of bush regeneration in New South Wales. The ‘Bradley method’ involved methodically clearing small areas in and around healthy native vegetation so that the each area was re-colonised by the regeneration of native plants, replacing the weeds.

The method places great emphasis on rigorous and timely weed control follow up during the recovery phase (a tenet still adhered to in modern bush regeneration). The process showed that, once native vegetation was re-established, continuing weed control was needed infrequently, mainly in vulnerable spots such as creek banks, roadsides and clearings.

The Bradley method follows three main principles,

secure the best areas first. They are the easiest to work with the best results. They are the core areas that can then be expanded.
minimise disturbance to the natural conditions (e.g. minimise soil disturbance and off-target damage).
don’t overclear – let the regeneration of the bush set the pace of clearance.

The essence of these principles guides modern bush regeneration, taking into account modern techniques and the need for appropriate ecological disturbance to trigger regeneration.

Find out more at The Australian Association of Bush Regenerators.

Our neighbours in the Illawarra have produced a practical and informative handbook for running a volunteer bush regeneration group.

Download the Bush Regeneration Handbook.

Bushcare - What is it?

Bushcare is a council supported program where local volunteers work to regenerate and restore local bushland on council reserves. There is currently a group working on Stonequarry Creek near the viaduct in Picton. The group meets monthly to work on controlling weeds and planting out local native plants to improve habitat for local fauna, stabilise the creek banks and improve water quality. Council can provide:

insurance cover for volunteers
advice on how to manage the site
access to tools
local native plants
support in writing grants

For more information about getting involved or starting up your own Bushcare group email nursery@wollondilly.nsw.gov.au.

Landcare - What is it?

Landcare is a grassroots movement of individuals and groups with a shared vision to restore and protect the environment in their local community through sustainable land management and conservation activities. Generally Landcare tends to be on private land and often neighbouring landholders will help each other out on their respective lands.

Over the past 30 years, Landcare has evolved into a powerful movement of volunteers and facilitators who give their time, skill and expertise for the benefit of the environment and the communities that seek to protect it.

Find out more about Landcare - https://landcareaustralia.org.au/

Local Land Services also provide support and advice on a range of activities including pests and weeds, land management and livestock health and production.

There are a few groups operating within the Wollondilly:

Razorback Environment Protection Society.
Barragal Landcare.
Nangarin Landcare.
Upper Spring Creek Landcare, The Oaks.

To find out more email nursery@wollondilly.nsw.gov.au.

Native Plant Propagation

Propagating native plants is a fun, educational and cost effective way of producing plants for your garden, farm or bush restoration site. Local native plants are hardy and adapted to local soils and climate being able to grow in sandy soils thru to heavy clays and everything in between. They can tolerate extremes of heat and cold, wet and dry.

Many native plants are easy to propagate and they provide habitat and food for birds and other native fauna. They can be used for amenity such screens and windbreaks, creek bank and soil stabilisation and to create a drought resistant water wise gardens.

The Robyn Davies Wollondilly Community Nursery is a great place to get local native plants for the Wollondilly. Local residents are entitled to 5 free plants per quarter and you can access plants for doing bushland restoration. The plants are lovingly grown by our dedicated volunteers and if you are interested in volunteering you can send an email to nursery@wollondilly.nsw.gov.au or call 4677 1100 for more information.

The Australian Native Pant Society is a great resource for anyone interested in growing native plants. You can download their guide "Getting Started - an introduction to growing and Propagating Australian Native Plants."

Seed Collection, Cleaning and Storage

Collecting seed, propagating and planting local native plants can be a great way to restore bushland in areas that are highly degraded and where natural regeneration of native plants is unlikely to happen.

Here are some really informative videos from Chlorophyll Your Mind presented by Judy Allen.

Indigenous Seed Collection - Cleaning and Storing PART 1 of 4

Indigenous Seed Collection - Cleaning and Storing PART 2 of 4

Indigenous Seed Collection - Cleaning and Storing PART 3 of 4

Indigenous Seed Collection - Cleaning and Storing PART 4 of 4

Tree Planting

When replanting an area to restore bushland it is important to use local, endemic, species that are adapted to the local climate and soil. Local fauna also rely on local plants for food and habitat.

The Robin Davies Wollondilly Community Nursery grows a variety of local native plants that can help you restore your bushland. You can also volunteer at the nursery and learn how to propagate and grow native plants. Email nursery@wollondilly.nsw.gov.au to find out more.

Download this simple Tree Planting Guide from Local Land Services.

Here are some tips about tree planting in this video from Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare.

Weed Control

What is weed?

A weed is any plant that establishes and persists in a natural area in which it did not exist before. They may affect the economy, the environment, human health, animal health and amenity. Many plants introduced into Australia in the last 200 years are now weeds.

Plants that are weeds have a number of common characteristics. They usually produce large numbers of seeds. They are often excellent at surviving and reproducing in disturbed environments. They can usually thrive in a variety of conditions.

A weed can be an exotic species or a native species. Weeds can inhabit all environments; our cities, deserts, farms, waterways, alpine areas and oceans.

Weeds invade bushland, particularly where there has been some disturbance to the natural cycles in that environment, and can out compete native plants.

Here is a video of the key weed control techniques.

The downloadable fact sheets below contain simple techniques for controlling weeds.

How to control small hand-pullable plants (PDF-88kb).

This fact sheet outlines methods for removal of small soft weeds (eg. fleabane, crofton weed, small grasses) and seedlings of any weeds (including privet, lantana and moth vine).

How to control weedy vines and scramblers (PDF-99kb).

This fact sheet outlines Methods for removal of vines such as balloon vine, morning glory, honeysuckle, cape ivy, jasmine, madeira vine and blackberry.

How to control weeds with underground reproductive parts (PDF-118kb)

This fact sheet outlines methods for removing weeds with tap roots (eg. catsear, dandelion), rhizomes (eg. asparagus fern, ginger plant), bulbs and corms (eg. oxalis, onion weed, watsonia, freesias, montbretia) and tubers (eg. madeira vine, arrow head vine).

How to Control Woody Weeds (PDF-114kb)

This fact sheet outlines methods for removal of woody weeds such as lantana, bitou bush, cotoneaster, privet, camphor laurel, Mickey Mouse bush (ochna) and cassia/senna.

These facts sheets were produced by the National Trust, National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Australian Association of Bush Regenerators.

Find out more useful information on councils Weed Management Page.