“It’s special because it’s got that little pocket of rainforest, and there’s a good lot of native animals and birds,” says Brian, “It really connects us to the natural world. It’s a birdwatcher’s paradise. One of the favourite things for me is to sit and watch the birds come into the birdbath.”
The Boldings’ property is home to threatened Longnosed Potoroos and Powerful Owls. White-bellied Sea-eagles fly over and nest nearby. In 2015, the couple decided to protect the property forever with a conservation covenant.
“We knew we weren’t going to clear any more land. We didn’t want to see the land bought by someone else once we’re gone and develop it because of its proximity to the beach and coast.”
The property is one of the places where Trust for Nature is working to protect this important ecosystem.
“It’s a unique environment to find yourself in,” says Rachel Smith, Project Officer. “It’s in that really interesting zone between the sea and the land. If it didn’t have any protection, it eventually would deteriorate. It plays an important role in the recovery of the ecosystem itself, maintaining its distribution at the very southern edge of its range.”
Unlike other Australian forests that are dominated by eucalypts, the rainforest is dominated by glossyleaved Lilipilies, with their bright pink or purple fruits, and Muttonwoods. Vines like the Wonga Wonga hang from the canopy. The forest is home to critically endangered plants like Yellow-wood and Yellow Milkvine. Threatened Grey-headed Flying-foxes forage for fruits as they migrate up and down the East Coast.
The rainforest is adapted to salty winds blowing off the sea. But its proximity to the coast also threatens the ecosystem as sea levels rise. On properties like the Bolding’s, Trust for Nature is controlling weeds like Blackberries that threaten the forest, and restoring habitat through planting trees and shrubs. But the biggest threat is deer.
The rainforest is adapted to salty winds blowing off the sea. But its proximity to the coast also threatens the ecosystem as sea levels rise. On properties like the Bolding’s, Trust for Nature is controlling weeds like Blackberries that threaten the forest, and restoring habitat through planting trees and shrubs. But the biggest threat is deer.
“They’re the giant rabbits of the 21st Century,” says
Brian, who has seen deer numbers increase over the
past two decades. “It’s hard to watch how they’ve
opened up the canopy.”
Brian, who has seen deer numbers increase over the
past two decades. “It’s hard to watch how they’ve
opened up the canopy.”
Apart from browsing, male deer ringbark the trees
as they rub the velvet off their new antlers. Brian
estimates they’ve killed hundreds of trees on their
property. Controlling deer numbers though is having
an impact.
as they rub the velvet off their new antlers. Brian
estimates they’ve killed hundreds of trees on their
property. Controlling deer numbers though is having
an impact.
“It definitely makes a difference for a while and knocks them down a bit,” he says
As well as controlling deer, Trust for Nature is
protecting rainforest and surrounding habitat forever
to ensure this precious ecosystem remains. Brian and Leanne have always been aware of the threats to nature, from learning about the harms of pesticides to overdevelopment along the coast.
protecting rainforest and surrounding habitat forever
to ensure this precious ecosystem remains. Brian and Leanne have always been aware of the threats to nature, from learning about the harms of pesticides to overdevelopment along the coast.
“We’re not blind to what’s happening with the planet. There’s not that much left of the rainforest and we wanted to protect it for the future. I’d encourage anyone with special bits of land they want to protect to do so.”
