EARTHCHAT: Euroa Arboretum - Growing Back the Bush for over 30 years!

Euroa Arboretum workers, Bronte Haines, Charlotte Langman, and Nelly Watson join Ruth Yeatman to talk about the wonderful conservation work of the ‘Arb’, its many offerings, and why they love working in this truly beautiful natural environment.

Spanning 27 hectares, the Euroa Arboretum offers a unique experience to spend time in the natural environment of northeastern Victoria. Working with traditional owners, from the Taungurung Land and Waters Council, the ‘Arb’ is restoring the natural environment to ensure it is preserved for future generations.

Established in 1990 the Euroa Arboretum has become a beloved destination for visitors wanting an outdoor experience as well as being a leading service provider of ecological restoration supplies and information. Originally the depot site for the freeway work to by-pass Euroa, the land was handed over by VicRoads to the local community. A volunteer Committee of Management transformed it to a beautiful park of woodland and wetland environments, walking tracks, picnic areas and an indigenous plant nursery.

From 2000, with the help of Natural Heritage Trust funding, the ‘Arb’ established the on-site Seed Orchard to provide an accessible and sustainable source of indigenous seed for regional revegetation. From then on the ‘Arb’ has generated income from plant and seed sales, growing approximately 60,000 indigenous seedlings per year including providing seed to the Goulburn Broken Indigenous Seed Bank at Dookie which, in 2019, moved across to the Arboretum where it is now run from.

In the ensuing 24 years, the ‘Arb’ expanded its many Conservation initiatives offering a myriad of wonderful innovative services including environmental education, running field days and workshops to promote awareness of and research into local habitat protection and restoration activities; a bush kinder; lovely walking trails; actively managed grasslands; a bush crew you can hire; and, you can even go canoeing and fish (with a licence) for Rainbow Trout!. The ‘Arts’ are also included with beautiful steel sculpture panels produced by local artists. So far, 98 bird species have been sighted. Birders, see if you can add to this list! There’s so much more to be found at this very special and thriving Arboretum. Check out these ‘highlights’ : https://euroaarboretum.com.au/highlights/ 

On sale are a wide variety of native plants for purchase at very reasonable prices so you too can provide food and habitat for birds and insects in your garden.

Volunteering is also possible at the ‘Arb’:                                                                              https://euroaarboretum.com.au/volunteer-at-the-euroa-arboretum/ 

-     Enquiries nursery@euroaarboretum.com.au - Nursery Manager: 0428 728 028

-     General enquiries: 0429 127 399

12noon, Tuesday 19th November, on SeymourFM, 103.9 on your dial. Repeated at 8am on Saturdays. Also on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts.

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