Grassroots grant helps Kanmantoo-Callington Landcare group revegetate the Bremer River
A Landscape SA program is helping volunteers plant trees – could your community be the next to benefit?
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The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, or so the proverb goes; the second-best time is now.
So it goes along the Bremer River at Callington, where Paul Johnston points out recently planted seedlings between the growing patches of head-high scrub that were sown years ago.
The local Landcare group was one beneficiary of Landscape SA’s grassroots grants program – which funds groups and individuals to improve their local environment – in 2022.
Applications for this year’s round will close next week.
Mr Johnston hoped the group might win more funding to continue a giveaway of tree seedlings to local landowners.
They distributed 1800 seedlings for planting on 22 properties last year; and provided advice about how to look after the river corridor, an important habitat for insects, birds, lizards and water rats.
“There’s a lot of landholders along the Bremer that are new and needed a bit of support … lifestylers and hobby farmers who wanted to do the right thing but didn’t know where to start,” Mr Johnston said.
“It’s not about getting someone to do the work for them – they’ve got to be financially and actively involved.
“We just give them a bit of help.”
Interested locals are invited to a community meeting and afternoon tea at Callington Recreation Community Centre at 2pm on April 2, where ecologist Phil Barron will explain a bit more about why natural habitats are important and how to create them.
Workshops for landowners along the Bremer and its tributaries will follow from 3.30-4.15pm.
Apply for a grant to improve your local landscape
Meanwhile, individuals, groups and companies are all encouraged to apply for this year’s grassroots grants through the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board.
More than $450,000 is available for projects such as revegetation, weed control, training, citizen science, environmental surveys, community events or equipment purchases.
Board chair Dianne Davidson suggested everyone think about how that money could improve their local environment.
Applications are due by 5pm next Tuesday, March 28.
The grant program is funded through the landscape levy – formerly the NRM levy – paid by all property owners.
- More information, apply for funding: www.landscape.sa.gov.au/mr.
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