Small Scale Natural Regeneration Land Management

23/03/2026

23/03/2026

Will you Marri me? 💍

Every year, to celebrate National Eucalypt Day, Eucalypt Australia polls thousands of Australians to decide on number one!

This year, with record support from Western Australia, the Marri (Corymbia calophylla) was crowned the winner.

Found in southwest Western Australia, the Marri is the ultimate wildlife apartment block.

From 80+ species of native bees buzzing through its nectar-rich flowers, to endangered black-cockatoos feasting on its seeds and possums curling up in its ancient hollows, this native is one of the most important trees in the bush.

The tree also plays a significant role in Noongar culture. It's known as gardan, kurrden, mahree, marri, nandap or ngora. Its kino, which oozes from the tree, is traditionally used for a range of applications, from wound dressing, to disinfectant, to tanning kangaroo skins for cloaks and bags.

Have you seen a Marri tree before? What's your favourite thing about it?

📷 | Marri Corymbia calophylla by Bailey Field via iNaturalist.org / Atlas of Living Australia.

28/02/2026

New South Wales has launched the Check My Land ap (see link below). It allows landholders to see if their kand, or land in their area, is identified as environmentally sensitive, protected or otherwise.
This has created some anger, particularly in the Central West of NSW where a significant amount of land has been categorised as “Category 2-sensitive regulated land (in-force)” which identifies the land as:

“…sensitive regulated land is land where clearing is not permitted under the Land Management Code (Native Vegetation) Code 2018, and a limited range of allowable activities is permitted. Tap through for more information.”

To learn more about your land, check out the ap. For most landholders, there is no change, but it is good to be aware of issues like this

https://checkmyland.app

The Check My Land NSW app helps landholders look up how improvements to their land may be affected by existing biodiversity and vegetation.

08/02/2026

The nature of the Australian landscape is always changing. My property, like many others benefits from bees Frequently the bees are from unmanaged or feral colonies Varroa mites are expected to destroy 90 to 100 per cent of these European honey bee colonies. While at a property near Millvale NSW today, we saw 3 seperate bee swarms relishing the cool wet change after yet another heatwave. Sadly, before too long, such a sight will be a thing of the past. Two of the swarms can be seen moving around in this footage above the large eucalyptus tree.

18/01/2026

After a huge heatwave in eastern Australia, showers and cooler temperatures have been a relief in many areas.
Grass cover with carefully managed grazing has kep this property looking healthy Roots that stay alive through the heat due to not being exposed by overgrazing, combined with the cooling effect of its foliage have left this property ready to power ahead affter the heatwave
Small scale landholders without stock can benefit from this grass cover. It is compounded year on year, especially if slashing, or preferably mulching, is undertaken every few years

This is not to downplay floods and wind damage.

15/12/2025

Like watching paint dry? Like watching grass grow? Here is the same group of young trees exactly one year appart.

Most of these trees were pruned so that the lowest branches were 2 metres above the ground. This was done to reduce fire risk, and encourage upward growth.

Varities planted here include red flowering Ironbark, peppermint gum, strawberry gum, Cootamundra wattle, white flowering gum, snow gum, Blakely’s red gum, and yellow box.

07/12/2025

Gazania flowers Flowering of these multicoloured menaces is now just about complete. Interestingly, they have been a hot topic for us in the past few weeks.

Has anyone:

A/ had any great problems with them being invasive, or
B/ had any luck controlling them.

It’s a bit late in the season now, seeds have spread. Their bright flowers make chipping them, or spraying them individually, quite a lot easier. Both options are labour intensive.

A problem, but a very attractive problem.

14/10/2025

Spot the cocoon? Is it a twig? Is it a branch? Appreciating the smallest things.

22/03/2025

On a number of occasions I’ve read and heard about the benefits of mistletoe. I’ve also seen trees, particularly in drought, or when trees are in isolated stands, struggle and even die with many mistletoe growths seemingly stifling the tree.
There is always another side to the story. Perhaps all things in moderation?
https://www.facebook.com/share/14zKC4DLnc/?mibextid=wwXIfr 

Australian mistletoe has gone from being viewed as a parasite harming native trees to being a Robin Hood figure in the environment.

31/12/2024

We’ve been experimenting with growing a variety of trees in the South West Slopes of New South Wales. Trees that really aren’t well suited to the area. Both native and introduced species.

There have been a few great failures including eucalyptus, citrus, grevilleas and other trees that have burned in the sun or drowned in the rain.

There have been some unexpected success too, including White Sallee Snow gum, Strawberry Gums and most amazingly a Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum).

The lesson learned is that it’s worth investing in some high risk trees occasionally. The wins make up for the losses.

The Sugar Maple was planted in 2021. The two pictures show the tree’s development in the past 12 months. It is now over three metres tall and thriving despite the summer heat and less rain in 2024.

04/12/2024

What land to buy? Where to start addressing the problems with land? These and many other issues have been faced by Rustic Spirits Homestead. Check out their latest video.

We've only just started building and setting up our Homestead, but by far the hardest part was figuring out how we were even going to find land to start it o...