Protecting large, old habitat trees in Metcalfe
Posted on 27 June, 2025 by Bonnie Humphreys
Sarah lives on her family’s farm in Metcalfe. The 30 hectare property has been managed for sheep grazing for many years. While sheep are still agisted within the property, Sarah has her eye on habitat creation and the restoration of indigenous flora across the property – ‘We’ve been adding to the remnant and revegetated areas every year and are already seeing a big increase in birds.’ Saray says.
Sarah’s property has an ephemeral (seasonal) creek line, grassy paddocks, and scattered large old Eucalypt trees, mainly Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora), River Red-gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), Long-leaf Box (Eucalyptus goniocalyx) and some Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis). Sarah loves these large old trees ‘These giant old trees are so precious, it’s so good to see them fenced off and protected from hard hooves and nutrient overload, and to see the understory we have planted start to grow up underneath which will soon be full of birds’.
Connecting Country has been very lucky to secure support from the Ian Shirly Norman Foundation in partnership with the Victorian Government NatureFund to run a program over the past 2 years to protect large old Eucalyptus trees within farmland in the Mount Alexander Shire, and to provide succession for the next generation of these to mature. These large old trees are scarce in our landscape, largely due to historic gold-mining, timber harvesting and clearing for agriculture. These trees are so critical for habitat for a range of animal species, particularly threatened species such as the Brush-tailed Phascogale that relies on tree hollows for nesting.
Some key actions within the project included;
- Fencing to exclude stock. Stock increase nutrient loads around trees, as well as introducing weeds and compacting the soil.
- Retaining fallen limbs and leaf litter. These provide homes for insects, foraging resources for small animals and birds, and protection for the soil.
- Planting of understorey species around the trees. This helps provide resources and habitat for animals, who in turn, help manage pests. These plants also provide some direct protection for these large trees.
- Installation of nest boxes. Phascogale nestboxes were installed throughout the property support the threatened species to breed and move through the landscape.
- Providing stock proof guards to protect strategic recruitment of trees within paddocks.
- Controlling pests such as weeds and rabbits
With funding from our project partners, Connecting Country was able to support Sarah to be a step closer to achieving her goals and vision for the property. In June last year she held a planting day. ‘We had around thirty people come and help plant the trees and had a bush dance the evening inviting everyone in Metcalfe. It was so much fun and people are excited to come back next year, see how far the trees have come and plant lots more’.
The plants are off to a great start, especially given the extended dry we have been having and are already popping out of the guards. ‘I can’t think of many better feelings than watching a fairly barren, grazed landscape come back to life, shoot up and begin bursting with biodiversity again’.
Connecting Country is very proud to be able to support properties like Sarah’s and to work with such an enthusiastic and committed community. We acknowledge and are very grateful to the Ian and Shirley Norman Foundation and the Victorian Government (through the Nature Fund) for supporting this valuable work.
Wonderful to see. Well done all.
What a lovely story Bonnie! Thanks for sharing