Grassy White Box Woodland Restoration Grant SubCommittee


What are Grassy White Box Woodlands?

Box Woodlands, including Grassy White Box Woodlands, once covered around 10 million hectares of south-eastern Australia. The dominant tree species is generally White Box (Eucalyptus albens) and grass species dominate the ground layer. Other tree species in these woodlands include Blakely’s Red Gum (Eucalyptus blakelyi) and Yellow Box (Eucalyptus melliodora) a sparse shrub layer and an associated understorey of native grasses including Kangaroo and Tussock grasses. Grey Headed Flying Foxes (listed as Vulnerable under the Action Plan for Australian Bats) and Little Red Flying Foxes feed on White Box nectar.

Grassy White Box Woodlands provide habitat for over 60 threatened species such as the Bush Stone-Curlew and the Squirrel Glider and they are an important source of food and habitat for three nationally threatened bird species (Regent Honeyeater, Superb and Swift Parrots).

Grassy White Box Woodlands were once widespread on the deep fertile soils of the wheat-sheep belt of south-eastern Australia. Since European settlement more than 80% of that area has been cleared of its former native vegetation for agriculture. Across the state, more than 95% has been cleared and much of what remains is grossly altered and only 10% of what’s left is protected in reserves. These woodlands now occur in isolated fragments on the western New South Wales slopes of the Great Dividing Range in the north extending into Queensland to the southern Darling Downs and in the south extending into northern Victoria.

Experts believe that the Grassy White Box Woodlands are one of the most highly fragmented and poorly reserved ecosystems in Australia. Estimates are that now less than 400 hectares of Grassy White Box Woodlands with relatively intact understorey are known to exist in New South Wales. Our best local examples are Currabubula and Winton Cemeteries as well as parts of Moore Creek Caves Reserve.

There are many threats to these grassy woodlands. They include: clearing and modification, fragmentation, firewood cutting, inappropriate burning practices, soil disturbance and weed invasion.

So how can I help?

The Grassy White Box Committee are undertaking a number of projects to address the decline in this ecological community. Work continues to help rehabilitate and restore these woodlands at numerous sites across our region.

A monthly working bee is held by The Friends of Moore Creek Cave on the 3rd Saturday of every month from 8.30am, held at Moore Creek Caves Reserve (end of Maysteers Lane).

Contact Paul Moxon at info@trla.org.au to get involved.



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Cuppa & Catchup on Country

Cuppa & Catchup on Country

Gomeroi Yinarr Landcare invites you to join us for our monthly community gathering every 3rd Sunday of the month at Tamworth Mountain Bike Park.Come along, share a cuppa, a yarn, and enjoy the beauty of Country together. Everyone is welcome. Our next gathering will be on Sunday 21st September, we’d love to see you there, bring a chair!


Nature Journaling with Henrietta

Nature Journaling with Henrietta

On Saturday, 6 September, Tamworth Regional Landcare Association had the pleasure of welcoming Henrietta Moone, ecologist, natural history illustrator, and founder of the Hunter Region Field Naturalists and Nature Journaling Club, for a wonderful nature journaling workshop.

Henrietta’s work combines science, art, and conservation, creating watercolour paintings, felted sculptures, and educational resources for schools, government, and community programs. Through her passion, she demonstrates how nature journaling can become a tool for conservation, helping people connect deeply with the natural world.


Cuppa Chat - Werris Creek

Upper Mooki Landcare is supporting a short, informal gathering for locals interested in soil health. This will be an opportunity to meet others and information is applicable to grazing, cropping or the home gardeners.The workshop is free – but please register with Nicky Chirlian (Local Landcare Coordinator) on 0488056199 or at nicky@trla.org.au

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.

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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.

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