Field Day 7 December - End of Year Break-up

BBQ Brunch - End of year field day & break-up.
Our end of year break-up will start with field day type work. We're starting on the CMA grant planting coordinator by Ecology Coordinator extraordinaire, Aaron, with some planting, weeding and mulching at 9.00 am Sunday 7 December. Bring something yummo to cook on the BBQ (meat or vegie) and something else to share with others - salad, cake or biccies! We'd love to see all members and supporters (new and old) at the Park for the final end of year bash.

Next Field Day Sunday 2 November 2008

Come along with gloves and hat, we've some caring to do for our 2007/2008 plantings before the summer hits us - and lots more! Look forward to seeing you there.

Field Days

Field Days are held on the 1st Sunday of every month from 9.00 am to 12.00 pm. We'd love you to come and and join us in looking after the Earthcare Park - planting, tending, weeding and enjoying the regeneration of the park and resurgence of bird life. Bring a snack to share for morning tea if you wish. We have tools to share around but if you have a favorite from home, bring it along.

Annual General Meeting, Farm Forestry Workshop & Zoe farewell lunch

Sunday 6th July

9am on-site Farm Forestry Workshop

11am AGM- to be held at Mindaribba LALC, Metford

12> Lunch and farewell to Zoe who is leaving the position of coordinator

email rsvp to earthcarepark@gmail.com

Spotted Gum-Ironbark forest - our own Tassie tiger

The Park is home to the Lower Hunter Spotted Gum-Ironbark (LHSGI) forest, an Endangered Ecological Community listed under the NSW Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. The Act lists species, populations and ecological communities that are endangered or presumed extinct.

The LHSGI forest community is restricted to a range of 65km by 35km centred on the Cessnock-Beresfield area. It was once widespread but now only remnants remain. Four large patches of LHSGI forest were once estimated to have covered nearly 50 000ha prior to European settlement. Today about 10% of this remains, or approximately 7 000ha.

Ongoing threats include: further clearing and the subsequent fragmentation impacts, rubbish dumping, weed invasion, coalmining and logging activities.

We are currently investigating the best way to proceed with protecting and restoring this unique local icon. Contact us to get involved!

Trees - workin' hard to make a living

In collaboration with Greening Australia, Earthcare Park established a farm forestry project on the northern boundary of the Park. So what is farm forestry anyway?

The mid-1970s saw the global recognition of the key role trees play on farms and wikipedia describes 'agroforestry' as: an agricultural approach of using the interactive benefits from combining trees and shrubs with crops and/or livestock. It combines agriculture and forestry technologies to create more integrated, diverse, productive, profitable, healthy and sustainable land-use systems.

Today - agroforestry practices have made significant inroads on critical survival issues in the 'third world' by: reducing poverty through increasing production of agroforestry products for home consumption and sale; contributing to food security by restoring farm soil fertility for food crops and production of fruits, nuts and edible oils; reducing deforestation and pressure on woodlands by providing fuelwood grown on farms.

Join us on July 6 @ 9am for a chat with a farm forestry expert, followed by maintenance work on our plot and our AGM at 11am.

Frog Night - "Frogs in Bed"

Friday 29 Feb - Frogs in Bed, 7.30pm. See photos of this successful event . What exactly do frogs get up to after dark? Local frog expert, Rodney Parker Wright took a group for a tramp around the favoured night-time hangout spots for our local frog species.

Power UP!

• Saturday 5 April 2.00 - 5.00 pm. "Power UP!" Youth Week music event onsite. Featuring:
  SAME OLD STORY - MY DYING EMBER - VELVET RAGE - RED LIGHT TROLLEY
  Sponsored by Maitland City Council, the NSW Dept of Housing and Maitland Mercury. It organised by local young people in collaboration with Earthcare Park. A free all ages event.
  
  Free organic BBQ, market stalls, bike give-away, inspiring speakers, art and tree planting workshops.
  
  youth week april 5 - 13 youthweek.com

Email: earthcarepark@gmail.com for further info.

2008 Field-days & other events

Sunday 3 February onsite: Planting and weeding morning from 9 am - Lots done!

Friday 29 Feb - Frogs in Bed, 7.30 pm onsite.

Sunday 2 March onsite: Clean Up Australia Day from 9 am - Organised by Meredith - see photos

Thursday 20 March 6.45 pm. Bat Search.

Saturday 5 April onsite: "POWER UP" Youth Week Music Event;

Sunday 6 April 10 am onsite: Clean up and weeding
Saturday 26 April 8.45 am onsite: Revegetation Planning with Phil from Hunter Land Management

Sunday 4 May onsite: Astronomy night and BBQ dinner

Sunday 1 June onsite: Plant identification workshop 10am

Please remember to bring a water bottle, hat/sunscreen, and wear closed-covered shoes, garden gloves and long pants to field days. Your favorite tools are useful to have with you.1 Children are welcome under parent supervision.