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MAY 2016 | Nell Carr

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IN ORDER to preserve water quality on stream side reserves, and to prevent erosion, landholders are advised that stock should no longer be given access to permanent streams on their land.

In a few cases, there is still some remnant native vegetation along rural creeks.

Once stock are excluded, it might be possible to regenerate those few surviving native plants.

Swamp paperbarks (Melaleuca ericifolia) are not long lived, and regenerate by sending up fresh growth from surface roots.

If these young tender shoots are grazed, they will not survive, and all trees will disappear in a few years.

Once thick shade returns, then other moisture loving species, such as the many native ferns which populate those areas should re-establish themselves.

The Scented Paperbark, Melaleuca squarrosa, is another moisture lover.

The Woolly Tea tree, Leptospermum lanigerum, which grows along the Meander River, and Christmas Mintbush are two more flowering shrubs which would grace the banks.

All of these are available at a native tree nursery in Meander Valley, but they might have to be grown for landholders if stocks are not immediately available.

The picture below shows stream side reservation where stock have been excluded for two years. Half a dozen species of native fern, including the now rare King Fern Todea barbara, are flourishing in the shade of young Melaleucas.

Broad Beans

If Autumn sowings of broad beans didn’t happen because of the unusually dry weather, they will mature at about the same time - November and December - if sown in September.

Some experts recommend spring sowing, as they do not grow so tall to be knocked about by the wind.

Cattle over the garden fence? Chop up your old sweet corn stalks and throw them over.