Inspiring change through Heavenly Hectares and

Great Gardens

LANDCARE SOLUTIONS

Since 1992 and in a variety of formats over 10 000 landholders have been through our

‘Heavenly Hectares’ rural landscape program

Inspiring change…..before and after On the family farm, WA 1991 -2002

Our key aim is to teach people that a well managed and diverse landscape is not only more productive and environmentally

sustainable but it will be more attractive and valuable…..the triple bottom line in action!!!

Through our Heavenly Hectaresprogram we have:

• Taught over 25% of all landholders in the Swan Canning Catchment

• Helped create over 1200 farm plans

• Increased uptake by landholders of landcare/revegetation programs in participating regions by a minimum of 20%

• Catalysed the formation of 2 new landcare groups and increased membership in existing groups in all participating regions.

Typical incentives we use include:(the food, freebies and fraternising principle!)

•Heavily subsidised programs

•Prizes and give away’s

•Links to free landcare programs

•Links to landcare officers and landcare funding

•Celebrity presenters

•Free pest and disease service

‘The Sugar coated environmental pill’present the facts and then the possible solutions

Highlight the inefficienciesWatering – 1950’s style

Present the likely future

In the near future we will need to use less water…

And now for the good news!strategies and techniques exist that have distinct

advantages over traditional systems

Examples:•Sub surface irrigation•Appropriate Australian Plants•Careful design•Mulching•Effective planting techniques and timing•Soil amendment

Big or small, a plan is the

‘blue print’ for a sustainable

landscape.

Yet most landholders don’t know the role planning can play in helping them manage their properties.

Proudly supported

by

Towards the creation of sustainable urban landscapes

The Urban Program

Since its inception in Spring 2003, we have:•run 80 Great Gardens workshops •partnered with 23 different local governments •Had Close to 7000 people attend

This makes Great Gardens the largest urban garden program of its kind in WA.

•The key role of Great Gardens is to:•Bring about a paradigm shift•empower and inspire people •change thinking and use around water and nutrients •help people recognize that their garden can be a wonderful extension of nature.

Our Great Gardens success is based on •Workshops based on fun and frivolity!!•Partnerships•‘one stop shop’ approach•flexibility

Where to from here?•Enhance the effectiveness of both programs

•Make use of our database of past participants•Work more closely with developers and

planners•Bolster and diversify funding support