"I want to lend an Extra Hand "


"I'm looking for Extra Hands"


Corporate Program

Children from Risdon Vale and Richmond Primary Schools. Photo courtesy of Leah Page.

Oyster Smashing at Snug Beach. Photo courtesy of Oliver Strutt.

Students from the Friends School tree planting at the Falls Festival site. Photo courtesy of Helen Ransom.

 

Revegetation at the Maryknoll and Blowhole Reserve,

Blackmans Bay. Photo courtesy of Extra Hands.

 

 

 

 

 

Water Quality Monitoring at Frogmore

Creek Vineyard

Under a beautiful bright blue sky and with a happy group of supporters, the Tasmanian Landcaring Grants were officially launched by Tasmanian Landcare Association recently. School children from Richmond and Risdon Vale Primary Schools participated some water quality monitoring as part of the launch activities. These “extra hands” volunteers had a very interesting morning with facilitator Ruth Mollison learning about water temperature, turbidity and bugs (Always a favourite with children).  Margie Jenkin, Executive Officer Tasmanian Landcare Association, said ‘how fantastic it was to see such enthusiasm in the local community particularly the young students’.  Students of Richmond Primary has built up quite a connection with the Frogmore Creek Vineyard and its environment by conducting water quality and frog monitoring activities over the last couple of years.

Volunteers enjoy an oyster smashing

good time

Many of Tasmania’s southern beaches are now a lot safer and more user friendly thanks to the work of volunteers and the Southern Coastcare Association of Tasmania (SCAT).  Feral pacific oysters have been recognised as an environmental pest and apart from their ecological impact oysters reduce the ability for people to enjoy coastal places. The sharp shells are a nuisance and safety risk for beach users. It is achievable and worthwhile to control and maintain oyster-free areas of the coastline where there are significant ecological, recreational or aesthetic values, for example popular swimming beaches.  Throughout February SCAT organised Oyster Smashing Working Bees to get rid of this nuisance introduced species. Oysters were literally smashed off the rocks and disposed of.- Not only a worthwhile activity environmentally but from all accounts a great stress buster as well!

Falls Festival and Friends School

In the middle of preparing for another massive and successful event last year the Falls site was also undergoing some revegetation. Thanks to support from the Tasmanian Landcare Association and financial support from Westpac our Extra Hands volunteers from the Friends School planted a few hundred native trees. Falls Festival praised the work of the bright and enthusiastic students. The Tasmanian Landcare Association has an ongoing relationship with the Friends school working with them to provide landcare volunteer opportunities as part of their community service days and this one was particularly exciting. The Falls Festival staff were great with the students and also provided a market stall at the event for the Tasmanian Landcare Association to promote its activities and recruit Extra Hands volunteers.

Kingborough Council prove many hands make light work

Thousands of trees have been planted throughout Kingborough thanks to the Council’s very active on ground works program and the efforts of their local landcare groups. Kingborough Council’s Bushcare Officer Bridget Jupe said the level of enthusiasm from the community for planting last winter was fantastic making real outcomes achievable. More than 2000 shrubs and trees and 4000 understorey plants were planted last year proving the old adage that many hands make light work. “Through our partnership with the Tasmanian Landcare Association we have been greatly assisted by the extra hands volunteer program which enables casual volunteers to register interest and participate when and where they want. We are very lucky in Kingborough that there a lot of caring people who understand that our natural environment is a big asset and place a lot of value on it.” Bridget said. Kingborough Council are gearing up for another busy year.