A crowd of almost 40 people attended a field day in the Dunkeld area, to share knowledge and learn more about regenerating Red Gums in a paddock setting.
The field day was organised by Glenelg Hopkins CMA in partnership with the Panyyabyr Landcare Group as part of its Woodland Protection Project, and featured local experts Rod Bird and Keith Cumming as the speakers.
Panyyabyr Landcare Group members including Lisa McIntyre were present and discussed how the Group has been very proactive with projects for more than 20 years and is participating in the current Caring for our Country Woodland Project
CMA project officer Tania Parker said the day was about "information sharing and learning from others, as well as the speakers".
"The opportunity to share knowledge was great. The field day participants had a range of levels of experience, and one of the most critical take home messages was that even small steps are a great way to start," she said.
There were five sites on the itinerary for the day, progressing from sites which were in the early stages of Landcare activities, through to Red Gum re-establishment sites that were a couple of years old and finally to large-scale, established sites.
She said that visiting the range of sites demonstrated the benefits of allowing Red Gums to naturally regenerate.
"While we also saw that supplementary planting of understorey species is beneficial for greater diversity, it is not essential for success," she said.
Ms Parker explained that stepping stone plantings - which looks just like it sounds, an area fenced around existing trees dotted across a paddock - hold great benefit to protect paddock trees.
The importance of stags and hollows for wildlife, and retention of large woody debris for wildlife habitat was another topic.
"And there was lots of discussion on the changing landscape and value of paddock trees. Once lost, it is very hard or near impossible to get the large old trees back," Ms Parker said.
Ms Parker said Red Gums were representative of the cultural and natural heritage of the region, and were an icon that were easily recognisable across the landscape.
"Many of the remaining trees are over 450 years old, and have declined from about 10 mature trees per hectare to about 1 tree per hectare today. Without intervention and greater awareness, Red Gum populations across the region will continue to decline due to a lack of natural recruitment."
The federally funded Woodland Protection Project is working with landholders and Landcare Group members in both the Dunkeld and Wando Vale areas to undertake on-ground works.
These two areas were targeted as they were identified as having strong community and Landcare support, good links to existing areas of remnant vegetation and landholders who had an awareness that Red Gums are in decline.
On-ground works undertaken to date include fencing clusters of Red Gums to exclude stock and allow for natural regeneration, supplementary planting and direct seeding around Red Gums, establishing individual paddock trees, and linking corridors with other vegetation.
If you are interested in knowing more about our landscape Red Gums and how to assist in protecting them for generations to come, please contact Tania Parker at Glenelg Hopkins CMA on 5571 2526.
Photos from the day have been posted on the Glenelg Hopkins CMA Facebook page.