New England & North West Landcare Adventure 2023

We are pleased to invite you to join us for the upcoming New England & North West Landcare Conference 2023! This event will explore the latest innovations, strategies, and best practices in landcare and conservation. We will have a variety of experts giving engaging presentations, offering interactive workshops, and engaging in meaningful dialogue. This is an excellent opportunity to learn from and collaborate with like-minded individuals and organisations as we strive to care for and protect our land and its resources. We hope to see you there!

Secure your seat at the official dinner and hear from keynote speaker, Gundi Rhoades author of the Food Solution.


Event program Event program


Overview of guest speakers Friday, May 26, 2023

All Streams

Andrew Watson: Is Farming Caring for the Land? 

The Weedy Gardener: Down the Carrot Hole and his Weedy Garden

Native Grains: Angela Pattison & Kerri Saunders

The 3 Rs: Research, Rehydration & Resilience

Aurelie Quade: Farming Past, Present and Future: The role of organic carbon

Guy Roth: Agricultural Technologies

Lu Hogan: Proactive management of land and animals in a variable climate with Ag360

Martin Thoms: Knowing your Waterways

Roger Ottery: Rehydrating Your Farm

Healthy Soil, Healthy Food

Angela Pattison: Native Grains: Field to Food on Gomeroi Country

Cameron Leckie: Gaps? What Gaps? Analysis to Inform the National Soil Strategy

Dr Oliver Knox: Soil Your Undies

Grant Hilliard: Your Farm’s Story: It’s importance and tell it so that your customers listen

South Pole: A Holistic Approach to Land Management: Carbon and biodiversity projects

Richard and Janet Doyle: Our Regenerative Journey

Community & Urban

Bronwyn Brennan: Let’s put our 'Phytocaps' on: How waste can be green

Dr Gundi Rhoades: The Food Solution

Emmanuela Prigioni: Social Enterprise Farming Around our Towns and Cities

Vicki Stokes: Returning the Pilliga to the Past: Restoring the native animals

Grant Hilliard: Your Farm’s Story: It’s importance and tell it so that your customers listen

Citizen Science & Education

Craig Little: Landcare NSW: Indigenous knowledge and involvement

Andrew Daley: Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) 

Kristy Peters: Woodland Bird Diversity in a Changing Climate: The role of native mistletoe

Wally Hammond: Aboriginal Community Support Officer, North West LLS: My role

McCarthy High School: Landcare in High Schools

Peel High School: Regen Ag in High Schools

Workshops: Saturday, May 27, 2023

TRLA Nursery:

  • Nursery tour
  • Indian Myna bird traps and how they work
  • Workshops with Mr. Weedy: Compashi, soil bacteria, worm farm
  • Weaving

Field trip to Gowrie/Duri: Landscape rehydration projects

Field trip with the Local Lands Council to Boundary Rock

Proudly funded by the Australian Government in association with the NSW Government and supported by the New England Landcare Group and North West Landcare, we look forward to seeing you there!


Latest News



“Discover a Hidden Woodland Gem: Klori TSR Field Trip with Ecologist David Carr”

Join us for a guided bus trip to the Klori Travelling Stock Route near Somerton with ecologist David Carr from Stringybark Ecological. Explore a rare remnant grassy-box woodland rich in biodiversity and cultural heritage, and learn about the conservation value of these unique ecosystems. We’ll then visit the McVeigh family property, “Aytonlea,” Winton, where over 7,000 native trees and shrubs have been planted to create a thriving, biodiverse landscape. The day will conclude with lunch at Aytonlea and an opportunity to reflect on how thoughtful land management can balance conservation and productivity across our rural environments.


An exciting and innovative opportunity for environmentally conscious youth is on the horizon!

Come and join the fun!🤩 
An exciting and innovative opportunity for environmentally conscious youth is on the horizon!

The Tamworth TRLA is establishing an INTREPID LANDCARE GROUP targeted at individuals ranging from their mid-teens to their mid-30s. We encourage schools, school students, and interested individuals to contact us if this initiative piques your interest. What actions can Intrepid Landcare take to empower you, young individuals, and communities to engage in meaningful activities? Enabling stuff that happens- Intrepid Landcare Australia (https://intrepidlandcare.org/enabling-stuff-that-happens/

Contact: Kate Spry 

Email: kate@trla.orga.au 

Ph: 0428 267 912


Community Takes Action on Common ‘Indian’ Myna Tamworth

Community Takes Action on Common ‘Indian’ Myna Tamworth

If you’ve spent time around Tamworth’s Peel Street cafés, you’ve probably noticed the cheeky Indian Mynas darting between tables, snatching crumbs, and leaving more than a little mess behind. While they might look harmless, these introduced birds are a serious pest — and local community members are banding together to do something about it.


Blackville Public School has joined the TreeTroff Program!

On Tuesday I (Liverpool Plains and Gunnedah Local Landcare Coordinator) had the great pleasure of joining the students and staff of Blackville Public School, and Wes Leedham and Carl Holmsby  from the NSW DET Environmental Education Centre at Coonabarabran, to install a Tree Troff in the playground. 


2025 Landcare conference videos and ressources

Did you miss the landcare conference? If so, You can now watch all the speaker presentation videos from the 2025 National Landcare Conference, and the 2025 National Landcare Awards event online. We have also published over 50 poster presentations that were on display at the conference. 


SOIL: Rewilding the Underground

I know we have a few people among us who has an interest in soils, or if you just want to learn a bit more check out this podcast which was sent to us by Helen. If anyone else has any resources they would like to share let us know!. Thank you Helen 🙏

https://open.spotify.com/show/3GTWyj92WzwyW7iLmc8sY9?si=Kw5BkEn8RdyqeaEhiuqunQ


Creek Bank Stabiliozation Workshop

Are you interested in managing water flow in your upper catchment creeks to your best advantage?  Come along to a hands on day with Roger Ottery and Andrew Wylie (UMLC) and Craig Pullman (LLS) to walk, watch and listen!  Finish up with a BBQ on the creek.

Please wear sturdy boots, hats and sun protection.

Contact Nicky Chirlian, Local Landcare Coordinator on 0488056199 or nicky@trla.org.au if you have questions


Don’t miss out on Early Bird tickets, now on sale for @Wilmot Field Day 2026.

Wilmot Field Day brings together global experts in the field of nature friendly farming and invites you through the farmgate to see regenerative grazing and farming practices in action.

Walk through the paddocks with regen ag expert @Allen Wiliams (USA), jump into a soil pit with Dr @Susan Orgill of @Impact Ag Australia, or join a candid discussion on the future of our food system with farmers who are forging new market pathways.

Whether you’re passionate about soils, pastures, plants or livestock, you can be sure to find something on the program to spark your interest.

Tickets are discounted for a limited time only. Find them here:https://wilmotfieldday.com.au/tickets/


Vetiver (Chrysopogon filipes)

Meet Vetiver, a remarkable grass with deep roots and big benefits. Known for its ability to stabilise soil, reduce erosion, and filter runoff, Vetiver is a powerhouse for land restoration and water management. Its dense root system binds the soil, making it ideal for creek banks, dam edges, and steep slopes, while also providing habitat and shelter for insects and small wildlife. Tough, drought-tolerant, and low-maintenance, Vetiver is nature’s own erosion control expert.


Bird habitat plants

Discover four standout native plants that bring life to your garden and provide vital food and shelter for local birds. In this short video, we showcase Ruby Saltbush, a hardy shrub with vibrant berries loved by small birds; Midgen Berry, a sweet-fruited groundcover that attracts fruit-eaters; Prickly Blackthorn, a protective haven for nesting species; and Wonga Wonga Vine, a lush climber offering both nectar and cover. Together, these species create a thriving, bird-friendly habitat right in your backyard.


Burdekin plum (Pleiogynium timoriense)

The Burdekin Plum is a striking native tree that’s as beautiful as it is beneficial. Its glossy leaves and dark, plum-like fruits make it a standout feature in any landscape, while also providing an important food source for birds, bats, and other wildlife. Traditionally valued as a bush tucker plant, its fruit can be eaten raw or ripened off the tree for a rich, tangy flavour. Hardy and adaptable, the Burdekin Plum is perfect for creating shade, supporting biodiversity, and bringing a touch of the tropics to your garden.


Smooth Darling Pea (Swainsona galegifolia)

Native treasure!  The Smooth Darling Pea (Swainsona galegifolia) in full bloom! With pinnate grey-green leaves and a rainbow of pea-shaped flowers, it’s more than just a pretty face, it’s a nitrogen-fixer, a wildlife helper and a hardy garden star. Just a heads up: beautiful as it is, it’s not ideal for grazing zones.


Get in Touch - Soil Workshop

A group of local farmers gathered at the Currabubula Hotel early on 27th September to hear farmers Ian Pine, Amy Perfrement, Neville Watts and James Filby present a range of information on the beneficial effects of soil organisms and their use as a measure of soil health, and their interaction with agriculture.


Graeme Sait Workshop

Upper Mooki Landcare Inc was fortunate to be offered 4 hours of Graeme Sait’s (Nutritech) time on 8th October 2025.  This intensive short workshop was attended by 28 farmers from Delungra, Gunnedah, Tamworth and the local area who gave extremely positive feedback on the event. 


Landcare Learning - Trivia Night

TRLA invites you to join us for a fun-filled Trivia Night to wrap up 2025! Come along on Friday, November 21, at 6:00 PM for a 6:30 start, at the Ibis Styles Motel Ebsworth St, West Tamworth ,for an evening of laughs, prizes, and community connection. Grab your friends and test your knowledge over drinks, canapes, and good company! You may even win a prize !!!!


Lessons from the Land - The Sheep Producer Session

Webinar hosted by LLS

When times get tough, there’s no shortage of technical advice – but what’s often missing are the real, practical insights from producers who’ve lived it. This session is designed especially for sheep producers, offering candid reflections and advice from NSW sheep producers who have faced dry times firsthand.  

Tune in to hear stories, gain insights, ask questions, and take away practical strategies. This session will cover managing flock health and nutrition during dry periods, making critical farm management decisions, adapting farm practices for resilience, and navigating the personal and family challenges that come with tough seasons. 

Why join? 

  • A session tailored specifically for sheep producers 
  • Real stories and strategies from producers on the ground 
  • Engage in discussion, ask questions, and sharpen your strategy for tough seasons 


Register now to secure your spot and be part of this valuable conversation. 


Nemingha Community Garden Open Day & Workshop

Come along to the Nemingha Community Garden and enjoy a fun, hands-on day outdoors while learning new gardening skills. This month’s theme is Organic Pest Control, with special guest speaker Sean Tobin from Heemskerks Nursery.

What’s happening on the day:
✨ Free BBQ lunch
🎟 Raffle prizes (cash only)
🌱 Hands-on activity – take home your creation
🌻 Guided tours of the garden and a neighbouring garden
🍅 Market swap table – bring produce to swap or purchase (cash only)
👨‍👩‍👧 Family-friendly fun – children welcome!

Please bring your own chair.

NO RSVP NEEDED


Regen Farmers Pub Meetup

Join us for an informal evening of conversation and connection with other regenerative farmers and like-minded landholders.
Share stories, ideas, and inspiration over dinner and drinks in a relaxed setting.


TRLA Native Plant Nursery Open Day

Here’s what’s happening on the day:
- Build a No-dig Garden with the Tamworth Community Organic Gardeners, learn sustainable garden-building techniques.
- Meet the Critters with Phil Spark, discover some of our fascinating local wildlife up close.
- Explore the Nursery, browse our range of local native plants and chat with the friendly TRLA team.

 Free community event • Family-friendly • Everyone welcome!


Celebrating Our Own – Nell Chaffey Wins National Landcare Award

Celebrating a Landcare Champion: Nell Chaffey
National Women in Landcare Award recipient – 2025

We are thrilled to share the excellent news that Nell Chaffey, from the Tamworth region of New South Wales, has been awarded the Women in Landcare Award at the 2025 National Landcare Awards.


AgQuip 2025

The weather posed several challenges at this year's AgQuip, however our stand helpers rose to the challenge, sharing information about Landcare across the region with a diverse range of attendees...


Ngiyaani and Big Little Lowlines are looking for a part time Steward

Escape the routine and join our regenerative farming family! We’re looking for a practical, reliable individual to help care for our Australian Lowline cattle stud and beautiful property.

Call-out for Local Landholders – Nemingha, Loomberah, Dungowan & Woolomin

Call-out for Local Landholders – Nemingha, Loomberah, Dungowan & Woolomin

Are you curious about regenerative agriculture or already experimenting on your property?
We’re inviting landholders from Nemingha, Loomberah, Dungowan, Woolomin and surrounding areas to come together for a casual, landholder-to-landholder chat.

This is purely a networking opportunity to share experiences and ideas within our small area.
If there’s enough interest, we’ll arrange a relaxed dinner meet-up at the Dungowan Pub.

Interested?
Email Ninna at ninna@trla.org.au to put your name down or ask questions.

Let’s build local connections and share practical knowledge about regenerative agriculture.

Winter clearance

Winter clearance

We still have a few plants let on our $2.00-$3.00 sales rack. Call in to check them out. Would be great to get these cleared as we have lots on new ones coming on. 

Our members often say that when you become part of Landcare, you’re not just joining a group, you’re becoming part of a family. The concept is so compatible with Australian culture it’s hard not to get involved! By becoming a TRLA member, you’ll be supporting our work, learning new skills, becoming part of the solution, and helping to make a difference for the future.

LEARN MORE LEARN MORE

together we can make a difference

funding support

Did you know (TRLA) run an Annual Small Grants program for Landcare activities connected to the Tamworth region.

Volunteer Landcare and Grassroots Community groups can apply up to $2,500 for activities that meet an objective of TRLA’s strategic plan with eight successful projects being awarded funds from across the region.

APPLY NOW APPLY NOW