Linda Silburn

Woodfordia Inc has converted a former dairy farm into a biodiversity-habitat and community-events precinct. Since 1994, when the property was purchased, volunteers have planted 125,000 indigenous trees (of local provenance) to establish a temperate rainforest and indigenous specie parklands. In addition to re-foresting the land, our conservation and environmental restoration programme has improved biodiversity on this property by re-creating habitat and food sources for local species and, in particular, threatened fauna, such as the Birdwing Butterfly, Bronze Quail, Barred River Frogs, Green-Thighed Frog and flora such as Acomis acoma and Chorchorus cunninghamii. Although we've made good progress, there's still a lot to do. We have two aims: 1. Extend the indigenous, native-specie rainforest areas on Woodfordia, and 2. Where canopy trees are maturing, begin planting an under-story of small trees, shrubs, grasses. If possible, we would also like to plant ferns, epiphytes, cycads, orchids, vines, etc as these plants increase the diversity of fauna by improving the complexity and variety of food, habitat and eco-systems. We have six objectives: 1. Plant more indigenous, temperate rainforest trees to increase the size of current forests and establish new forest areas on the property, 2. promote establishment of a natural, indigenous understory suited to temperate rainforest in the Woodford area, 3. continue to increase bio-diversity of locally indigenous insects, arachnids, mammals, birds, amphibians and small reptiles by improving habitat and food sources, 4. use indigenous understory to suppress / eradicate exotic species (weeds), 5. Offset the carbon emissions produced by our activities on-site through the planting of trees and understory vegetation, and 6. strengthen and broaden the volunteer base in our dedicated environmental programmes (Conservatree and Tree Huggers). We currently have 90 volunteers in a new programme we call Conservatree (launched May 2023) and 200 volunteers in our well-established programme known as Tree Huggers. These volunteer groups include people of all ages, from toddlers to octogenarians, diverse genders and identities, families and singles, and people of different backgrounds and abilities, from conservation scientists to people who are passionate about the environment, to people who enjoy the sense of community and belonging they feel during a volunteer event at Woodfordia. While we greatly appreciate all of our wonderful volunteers, we are also aware of the benefits of volunteer succession and of broadening our volunteer base to include people from different communities and cultures, and people of different skills, interests, and capabilities. Many of our volunteers come from the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane, and while we value them highly, we also would like to reach out to, and build strong, positive relationships with schools, community groups, businesses, families and individuals from surrounding communities and districts, such as Woodford, Kilcoy, Beerwah, Peachester, Maleny, Moore, etc. We're also keen to increase inclusion of volunteers with different accessibility needs, in keeping with our values as an inclusive community organisation and our perception that every individual has strengths and the community, as a whole, benefits from those strengths and from the insight gained by working alongside people who have different abilities.

DIRECTIONS

Woodfordia is located 7km from the township of Woodford. Head out of Woodford toward Kilcoy. Turn right into the Beerwah-Maleny road. Take the first turn to the left into Woodrow Rd. Continue along Woodrow Rd until you see the first building on the left; that's our administration building. Come into our reception in the admin building to check in with the lovely volunteers and they will tell you what to do, where to park, and provide a code-pass for the boom-gate. Woodfordia is the name of a 500-acre property. Woodfordia Inc is the name of the not-for-profit organisation and DGR registered charity who manages this site.

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

Volunteers should bring sun safety gear (e.g., hats, long-sleeved shirts & long pants, sun-glasses, sun-screen), enclosed shoes, meals & snacks, and camping gear (if staying Saturday night, 27th July). Mosquito prevention options (spray, long sleeves, etc) are a good idea when working in the understory. A fold-up camping seat or ground mat isn’t a bad idea, either. Activities are undertaken by 'pods' under a pod-leader. Each pod has a focus and a plan, e.g., planting a particular area where we aim to establish new native forests, or planting particular plant-types, such as grasses or bush tucker trees & shrubs under the existing maturing forests. Planting activities usually include mulching and watering. In any areas where digging holes for plants may be challenging (heavy or compacted soil, slope, etc), preparatory work will be undertaken by Woodfordia Inc's site crew. Volunteers are encouraged to join the pod that most interests them, and also have the option to move between pods to gain new experience, skills and knowledge, and to meet and work alongside lots of different people. Interested volunteers should email Judy (see email address below). On arrival, drop into Reception in the Admin Building (first building on the left on Woodrow Rd) to register, receive a program of activities, a pass code that opens the boom gate, and directions to the volunteer sites. Woodfordia is a 500-acre property with 10km of roads so those directions and a site map are going to be very helpful. We provide basic first aid on-site, but strongly recommend that you bring necessary equipment (e.g. epi-pens) with you if you have a pre-existing condition. We also encourage volunteers to let Judy and/or your pod leader know if you, or anyone under your care, has serious allergies or a history of conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, bad back, etc, which may adversely affect your (or another’s) wellbeing while on site. While we provide fresh water, volunteers may also wish to bring their own water bottles to re-fill as needed. The days can be quite hot, but nights between May and August can be very cold, so coats & sleeping bags/blankets are needed if staying camping or coming to the Folk Club on Saturday evening. Woodfordia has lovely camping grounds, as well as a café, small general store, and a beautiful habitat lake (might be a bit cold for swimming in July!). The Folk Club takes place on Saturday evenings, with a bar and a BBQ. The Club attracts world-class, as well as local, musicians. It’s informal, friendly and fun. For keen muso’s, the Traditional Music School is held on Saturday afternoons. Volunteers attracted to the National Planting Day project on July 28th are most welcome to also participate in the eco-working bees and workshops on Saturday, 27th July, which are part of the monthly programme run by Woodfordia’s long-standing volunteer environment groups – Conservatree and Tree Huggers. Woodfordia Inc’s Volunteer Environment Programme Woodfordia Inc's volunteer environment / eco-restoration activities are held on the last weekend of each month. Volunteers can attend either or both days, and can also choose to camp at Woodfordia on Saturday nights. (see above). Our volunteer programmes (Conservatree and Tree Huggers) are very well organised. Each pod, under a pod leader, has a specific focus. Some pods work with specific species, such as orchids. Others may tackle woody weeds, work in the nursery, build nesting boxes or 'bee hotels', gather & record data on flora & fauna, etc. Choice of pods, and tasks are based on volunteers’ preference and capability, as well as existing skills and knowledge. We have activities for children, for the very active, for the less active, for the experienced and the not-so-experienced. Activities are organised so that everyone, no matter their age or ability, can join in and feel like they've made a difference and had a lot of fun while doing it. Activities are based on best practical knowledge and best researched science, drawn from conservation scientists, citizen scientists, practical people of the land, gardeners, wild-life carers, and artists.

WHAT'S PROVIDED?

Gloves,Tools and equipment for planting,Watering cans / buckets,Drinking water