26/05/2026
You may have noticed some big changes at Sutton Reserve.
Over the past few weeks there has been some major w**d removal happening in the reserve, with around 60 self-sown pine trees removed to help restore the area back to a more open Box Gum Grassy Woodland.
Many of these pines had been crowding out native vegetation, blocking sunlight and hiding struggling eucalypts beneath them. With the pines now gone, native trees and groundcover have a much better chance to recover and regenerate.
The work has also helped reduce fire risk near the village and created mulch that will now be reused across the reserve to protect soil and support new plantings.
You may also spot a new yarning circle near the planting area, already enjoyed during a recent Canberra Girls Grammar School working bee where students planted more than 70 native plants supplied by the Yass Landcare Nursery. 🌱
This is just the beginning of ongoing restoration work in the reserve, with Sutton Landcare volunteers continuing to w**d, replant and care for this special community space.
We’d love more locals to get involved or simply come down and enjoy the changing landscape.
Serious W**d Removal Opens Up Sutton Reserve
An incredible restoration effort is underway at Sutton Reserve, with Sutton Landcare volunteers and partners working hard to bring back the open Box Gum Grassy Woodland character of this important community space.
Over recent years, self-sown pine trees had begun taking over parts of the reserve, smothering native vegetation and reducing habitat quality. Thanks to a major pine removal project, around 60 invasive pines have now been removed, allowing sunlight back onto the ground layer and giving hidden native eucalypts a chance to thrive once again.
Alongside ongoing work tackling blackberries, serrated tussock, St John’s wort, African love grass and rabbits, this project is an important first step in restoring the reserve for biodiversity, community use and future generations.
The project also created a new yarning circle and supported a fantastic community planting day with Canberra Girls Grammar School students, who planted more than 70 native plants supplied by the Yass Landcare Nursery. 🌱
A huge congratulations to Sutton Landcare and everyone involved in caring for this special place in the heart of the village.
Read more about the project here:
https://yan.org.au/component/content/article/34-sutton-landcare/284-serious-w**d-removal-opens-up-sutton-reserve
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Growing Connections is a coordinated, region-wide restoration project that strengthens habitat connectivity, protects endangered ecological communities, and supports community-led land stewardship across the Yass Valley. This program is funded by Transgrid’s Community Investment and Benefit Program, delivered by HumeLink East AGJV.
