A new seed production area at Mt Vandyke is underway – and we’ve had some fabulous donations!

In early May 2024, work began on the establishment of a new seed production area at Mount Vandyke, NGT’s habitat restoration reserve in the heart of Cobboboonee National Park in Victoria. The site is a volcanic peak, which was historically cleared for grazing and then developed for plantation forestry. Now it’s on its way to becoming NGT’s first small mammal reintroduction site, and has been fenced with a predator proof fence. But first we must restore the native grassland. So far there has been a combination of prescribed burning, direct seeding and tubestock planting, but more native seed is needed to continue our revegetation efforts.

Ten thousand Themeda triandra (Kangaroo grass) cells were planted in a 0.1-hectare plot within the small, fenced exclusion area. This area will serve as a seed-harvesting site for future grassland restoration works. The plants were sourced from Ian Taylor of Western Plains Flora and were planted across three days by the NGT field crew, along with Rick Van Keulen and Mick Wilson. 

The days were long, but satisfying, as we visibly shifted the composition of the allocated planting area. The recently donated ‘FURPHY water tanker’ was used to pump water from the on-site dam, and all plants were thoroughly watered in. So far, the planting appears to have been a great success, although conditions in the south-west have been unseasonably dry. Given this, extra watering and weed control have been essential to their survival.

Currently, the Themeda plants, being summer-loving C4 grasses, have entered their winter dormancy period. However, we expect them to spring to life over the next few months, and hopefully produce plenty of seed in summer.  It has been fantastic to see a greater density of Kangaroo grass at Mount Vandyke, and we hope to extend its cover across the site in coming years.

Below is a short video by Lachlan Farrington which sums up the recent works at Mount Vandyke, enjoy!

The restoration program is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Purryburry Trust.

While funding for the tank and water tanker were donated by a generous private donor.