Maclean Landcare members are encouraging people to purchase the thousands of ready-to-plant trees they have amassed at their Townsend nursery.
“We produce endemic species for the Clarence Valley from seeds collected in the Clarence Valley,” says coordinator Lee Scarlett.
“This year we have a focus on koala [specific plant] species and we’re encouraging people with acreage to get some trees.
“We also produce some trees for council, and we’re open to the public.”
The land care group partners with Clarence Valley Council (CVC), which provides the space and water to accommodate the group’s efforts.
“We also provide plants for the council for its bush regeneration programs, and there is another nursery at Minnie Water,” says Lee.
“We’re open to the public [but] we’re not a garden-type nursery … and if people need some specific native trees or plants, we’ve got them.
“We’ve spent about $3,000 upgrading benches, watering systems and all of that.”
The group is also partnering with the recently formed Lions Club of Clarence – Environmental, which aims to “highlight the importance of biodiversity in the Clarence”.
“The overall goal is to halt the decline in biodiversity and help preserve threatened flora and fauna in the Clarence,” says Lions representative, treasurer Barbara Linley.
“We’re buying plants from Maclean Landcare to plant out our projects.
“From October 25 we will be planting on a property at Shark Creek, which was burnt out by the fires.
“They’re buying trees to fit into that ecosystem.”
The Maclean Landcare Nursery is open to the public on Thursdays and Fridays from 9am to noon, or by appointment – call Lee on 0448 997 285 – at 8 Ironbark Drive, Townsend.
The group’s main projects are the nursery and maintaining the environment around the Maclean lookout.
For more information or to join the group contact Lee Scarlett or email to macleanlandcare@gmail.com.
People who are interested in joining or learning more about the Lions Club of Clarence – Environmental can contact Barbara Linley on 0438 897 147, email Barbara.linley@bigpond.com, or secretary, Ant Van Haren, at ant.nest@bigpond.com or 0491 731 875.