Hosting a Field Day at Nardoo

I thought I knew what I was doing!

When I started managing the covenant, I was pretty confident I knew what I was doing... over time I increasingly realised how little I knew. Nature has proved a good teacher, I need to be constantly looking, learning and be prepared to change.

Every vegetation layer is important.

I started out thinking only about the trees. Over time I increasingly become aware of the importance of smaller and smaller lifeforms, be they plants or insects. Now I only plant understorey, or ground cover species or tree species that are not present and that I need to bring back.

Burning is important.

It is so good to see regrowth that can be stimulated by fire. We are increasingly learning how to use fire in some circumstances. Grassy ecosystems in particular need burning to help control biomass, as well as improving the vigour of some native plants.

Doing nothing can be good.

Nature sometimes does its own repairs. Just allow time to see what happens. Some weeds infestations for example, will slowly diminish without need for any work.

Mistakes will be made.

It is normal to occasionally expect one step forward and two steps back. Sometimes we do things that can have a positive effect in one way but a bigger negative effect on other things.

This is expensive.

Repairing nature can be hugely expensive. By not valuing nature, our economic system restricts our efforts. We have to find meagre buckets of money in the grant system. Yet we do find some and we do persist. Perhaps there is a role for small groups such as this to work collectively to find money, or for LCV to find a bigger bucket for members to access.

Choose to do one thing at a time.

Each day just do one task, focus on that task. Do not think about other issues. The day will pass quickly end with a smug feeling of satisfaction, with no guilt born of other tasks not done.

A covenant is a big thing.

Accept that having a covenant on your property is a huge gain. Be proud of your covenant even if you do not much more. Don’t stress if you can’t do much, what you have done by protecting your property in perpetuity is priceless.

Have a 100 year plan.

It is perhaps misguided arrogance to believe you should be able to fix everything in your brief stewardship. You cannot. Think of what your property needs to look like in 100 years and work towards that goal. Small steps.

Learn how to avoid bureaucracy.

All levels of government are incapable of understanding the complexities of conservation management. They can crush your spirit if you get caught in their impossible web of paperwork. Best to learn what not to tell them, what to ignore and how to word any necessary communications to minimise the effects on you.

It is better than it was.

At the end of every day of work say to yourself, it is better than it was. Just putting on a covenant means it is better than it was. Even the smallest of tasks you have done - it is better than it was.

Take the time to enjoy your property.

Walk around just looking at the wonders of nature that you have protected.

Visit new parts of your property.

We all have parts of our property that we walk past or never visit for whatever reason. Take the time to spend some time acquainting yourself. You may discover something new.

Women learn from squatting.

Women tend to get up close to nature when they squat to pee. One member suggests you look around the ground near you. It is surprising how many new things you will discover.

Do the ‘Walk of Glory’ across your property. 

Be proud of what you have and what you have and what you have done. Show it off to others. Your obvious enjoyment could well inspire others to follow your path.

Conversely avoid the ‘Walk of Shame’. 

When visitors arrive, it is easy to let yourself feel embarrassed by the work not done, the weeds going rampant, the tree-guards not straight. Or just when walking your property alone you see only the things you should be doing. Slap yourself on the wrist appreciate the good stuff.