Dissemination of Building Bridges to Boorowa in 2009

Our 9th trip to Boorowa in the Lachlan Valley (4-6 September 2009) was one of the very best yet. There was a big build up to this year's trip with the NSW Environmental Trust's Urban Rural Partnerships Dissemination Grant providing funding for program promotion, a workshop, guidelines, and of course the tree planting weekend.

Thirteen representatives from a variety of organisations, plus a minibus load of stalwart volunteer legends, came with us to Boorowa and experienced the fun, hard work, delicious spit roast, bonfire and satisfaction of the weekend in the beautiful countryside. With all toes and fingers crossed several urban volunteer programs will introduce similar partnership weekends into their annual programs and help Landcare groups restore the degraded rural landscape.

Of course planting trees provides multiple benefits such as: helping to reduce high water tables that cause soil salinity, preventing wind erosion, stabilising stream banks, creating habitat and shelter for wildlife, improving 'ecosystem services' such as pollinators for crops and pest control, as well as providing shade for livestock.

So many benefits just from planting trees!

Rather than writing more, click the photos (right) to see what it was like

Here are some comments from our tree planters:

What activities did you enjoy most?

"It was especially good hearing local people talk about projects and land management issues."
"The bonfire dinner, bush poetry, seeing the results of last year's plantings."
"Meeting locals, feeling we were being helpful and making a difference to the sustainability of an ecosystem."

Resources for starting your own urban rural partnership program

 Guidelines for starting your own tree planting weekend (851KB)

Landcare Groups: > Find a Landcare group to be a partner

NSW Councils: > Contact a NSW Council about a partnership

For full details or information, please contact the North Sydney Council Bushcare Officer on Ph: 9936 8258

Boorowa Photos

> Click thumbnails

> Back to article