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.

16 December 2007 - Dawnbreak Birdwatching Breakfast

5.15 am arrival at Earthcare Park. Meet at carpark of Beryl Humble Sports Oval on Metford Road. Breakfast at 7 am. BRING BINOCULARS!

Field Day - 2 December 2007

9.00 am Meeting on site at Tenambit Common. Meeting on site followed by some replacement plantings.