A series of cartoons have been launched on the Northern Tablelands using humour to get people thinking about the valuable benefits of natural vegetation on farm.
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With quirky drawings and a punchy message the cartoons have been designed by Northern Tablelands Local Land Services to prompt some serious action on protecting and expanding stands of trees and bushland.
Postcards featuring the quirky cartoons have been mailed out around the district as part of the 2016 ‘Trees on Farms’ project.
“The shade and shelter that trees and native vegetation provide on farm is enormously beneficial for livestock, but it’s often not until those last lone paddock trees die out that we realise what an asset trees are,” said Iestyn Taylor, Senior Land Services Officer with Northern Tablelands Local Land Services.
“In a scorching hot summer, or a frosty, cold winter, a paddock with trees is a much more comfortable place to be for sheep and cattle and that translates into better growth rates, higher productivity and reduced mortality.”
“Vegetation also attracts pest eating birds and insects and helps to support the often overlooked biological activity that plays a vital role in soil fertility and resilience below the ground surface. And less wind and evaporation and a balanced soil temperature increases pasture production.”
“We’re hoping the cartoons will help spread the message in a light hearted way about why we need to protect and restore trees, and encourage farmers to take advantage of the funding and support we have on offer through the Trees on Farms project.”
"We acknowledge that not all parts of our region need more native trees, but in some areas farmers are noticing more and more trees are dying out, particularly individual paddock trees.”
“We’re keen to regenerate native trees and plants in areas where they’ve been lost. We also want to help landholders protect remnant stands of native vegetation to ensure they survive for future generations.”
“After we have received your Expressions of Interest, we can work with landholders on-farm to develop their project ideas. We also have equipment available for site preparation and follow-up watering to give new plantings the best chance of survival,” said Iestyn.
Expressions of Interest forms for the Trees on Farms project are available on the Northern Tablelands Local Land Services website at: www.lls.nsw.gov.au/northerntablelands
Expressions of Interest close on Wednesday 31 August. For further information, please contact Iestyn Taylor on 02 6770 2008