Black Apple (Planchonella australis) is one of the largest bush tucker foods in the Big Scrub. A member of the Sapotaceae family, the same family as the persimmon, the fruit is slightly sweet, less tart than a Davidson plum and has a delicious texture. And, if you feel like foraging, the forest floor is currently...
The folk at Stone & Wood have gone from strength to strength since their story began in 2008. Their homegrown business and not-for-profit inGrained Foundation have done extraordinary things for the Northern Rivers community, and they have been long-term supporters of Big Scrub Landcare. Last week marked the start of a new chapter for the...
By Chris Byrne, Communications Manager, Big Scrub Landcare. Original version of story published in Country and Coast Magazine. When they moved to Coolgardie, just south of Ballina, Stephanie and Julian Lymburner came in search of a treechange. In their 40s, they left a busy picture framing business in Sydney looking to shift down a gear....
By Mark Dunphy, Vice-President of Big Scrub Landcare. The tall trunk and lush foliage of the Nightcap Oak (Eidothea hardeniana) is striking, but not easy to spot. A member of the Proteaceae (Banksia and Grevillea) family, it’s so rare and well hidden that it wasn’t discovered until 2000, and with only around 100 adults left...
A personal contribution from Big Scrub Landcare member Ken Dorey. Yesterday I heard the two deep, reverberating calls of a Wompoo Fruit-Dove. When the penny dropped I listened for a third call, but it never came, not did I spot its owner. Why was I so excited? BirdLife Australia describes the Wompoo as distinct for...
Big Scrub Landcare’s Enhancing remnants, linkages and corridors across the Big Scrub project has been wrapped up with praise for doubling or tripling a number of its expected outcomes. The three-year project, which was completed late last year, received its review from the NSW Environmental Trust, which commended the project for: Converting 22 hectares of...
When the Bexhill Public School discovered a patch of rainforest in the corner of its grounds, staff named it the “snake pit” and swiftly made it “out of bounds”. However, upon more recent inspection, the beauty and biodiversity of the heavily forested corner of the school grounds shone through. After an inspection by Big Scrub...
Refugium: a place of refuge where a community of species survives after extinction in surrounding areas. This apt description of the remnants of Big Scrub rainforest is also the inspiration for a new docuseries created and produced by Mullumbimby-born Liana Cornell. The beautifully shot series tells heartwarming stories of good being done by everyday heroes,...
A personal contribution from Big Scrub Landcare member Ken Dorey. The Black Bean, or Moreton Bay Chestnut, (Castanospermum australe) is a common Big Scrub tree and, as it is easy to recognise, it is often one of the first trees that rainforest enthusiasts learn to identify. What’s not as obvious on first glance is the...
June 5 marks the launch of the UN’s ‘Decade on Ecosystem Restoration’, a worldwide initiative aimed at preventing, halting and reversing the degradation of ecosystems. The initiative emphasises the link between ecosystem destruction and the health of livelihood of humankind: “Ecosystems support all life on Earth. The healthier our ecosystems are, the healthier the planet...
