Woodfordia Incorporated

OUR OBJECTIVES FOR THIS PROJECT Last year’s planting was very successful with over 290 volunteers joining us to plant 1575 native trees, shrubs and grasses. This year we have planned a larger and more ambitious programme. The main part of the project is a 3-day event on the May long weekend. This event is known as ‘The Planting’. It combines music, celebration, relaxation, guest presenters, workshops and fun activities for all ages with volunteer working bees that aim to plant 3,150 trees, shrubs and grasses. The 365 Tree project, where volunteers and visitors plant one tree per day each day for a year (365 days), ensures people who can’t make it to The Planting can still be involved. The total project target for planting trees, shrubs and grasses is 3515. OUR VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS PROJECT We're expecting approx. 2000 people of diverse ages, abilities and backgrounds. Based on last year's feedback and results, we anticipate that each person (even the little ones and the oldest ones - with help from family and friends if needed) will plant one thing; and at least 50% will plant 3-5 trees/shrubs/grasses. If the volunteers wish, they can dedicate the trees they plant to a living person they love or someone they wish to remember - creating forests of memory that they can visit in the future. Its a lovely thought that the little children planting trees this year will see those tree mature, and enjoy its beauty and its shade and all the eco-benefits that trees give to our natural and human worlds. Its lovely for the parents and grandparents too. OVERVIEW OF THE PLANTING PROGRAMME The Planting will be held over the May long weekend (2nd-4th May 2025). Planting sessions of native species will be combined with guest speakers on all kinds of environmental topics, fun activities, bushwalks, relaxing, festive meals, and concerts with live music from top-quality folk-musicians. As we have a large camping area, visitors will be welcome to camp here. Both the programme and the camping are family friendly, and we have a small camping & accommodation area specifically for people with different mobility/ability needs (including being suitable for wheelchairs). OUR AIM - WHY WE ARE DOING THIS PROJECT Our aim is to regenerate the 500-acres of Woodfordia by restoring the temperate rainforest with endemic native flora & funghi, and re-establishing biodiversity & habitat for endemic native fauna - including several endangered species like the barred tree frog. Woodfordia was a former dairy-farm. Since 1994, volunteers have culled weeds, planted over 130,000 native trees, plus shrubs, grasses, vines, ferns, funghi, orchids & other wild flowers, cycads & epiphytes, and maintained this gradually maturing habitat for local fauna - including endangered species such as the Birdwing Butterfly, Bronze Quail, Barred River & Green-Thighed Frogs, and Acomis acoma and Chorchorus cunninghamii. Woodfordia is a community-based not-for-profit. Over many years, we've created a community of like-minded people who are the nucleus of our volunteer-based initiatives focused on a healthy environment, original, independent arts, and community cohesion. This volunteer community enables our Arts, community and environmental aims. The latter includes gradually extending the indigenous temperate rain-forest on Woodfordia and, as they mature, planting indigenous under-story to increase & strengthen bio-diversity. OUR OBJECTIVES: Our objectives include: 1. plant more indigenous rain-forest trees to increase the size and resilience of our current plantings and to establish new forests on Woodfordia; 2. create a natural under-story; 3. continue to support rich & resilience bio-diversity of endemic species by improving habitat and food-sources; 4. suppress exotic weeds & feral pests; 5. off-set carbon emissions produced by our activities on site; 6. continue to build a broad, inclusive, motivated volunteer base to support these aims and objectives. OUR VOLUNTEERS: We currently have 328 year-round volunteers who participate each month in working bees and small events. The volunteer groups are called Conservatree, Tree Huggers and Weekend Warriors. 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 current volunteers, we also appreciate the benefits of volunteer succession and 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 schools, community groups, businesses, families and individuals from small communities that are closer; such as Woodford, Kilcoy, Beerwah, Peachester, Maleny, Moore, etc. For this reason, we held a Community Open Day last year which attracted 524 registrations from these communities, and we hope to hold another this year. 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 approx. 7km west of Woodford. Head through Woodford as if going to Kilcoy. Approx. 5km from Woodford take the Beerwah turn to the left. After approx. 2km take the Woodrow Rd turn to the right. After approx. 1km (single lane road) you'll see Woodfordia's low-set, deep blue admin building on the left. Turn in there, park in the small car park and head into Reception.

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PLANTING 2025 WHAT TO BRING Volunteers should bring sun safety gear (e.g., hats, long-sleeved shirts & long pants, sun-glasses, sun-screen), enclosed shoes, meals, snacks, water, etc. TIMEFRAME Volunteers can come for any amount of time that suits them - a few hours, a day or several days. IF CAMPING If camping over the May long weekend (2nd-4th May 2025), bring camping gear (and bear in mind that nights can be pretty cold in May). We have shared showers & amenities blocks. Some have hot water and some don't (you might want to ask about that when you register). 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. FOOD & BEVERAGES Many of our volunteers both self-cater and also treat themselves to meals and/or treats that you can purchase on-site. As this project is part of The Planting event, there will be a variety of food stalls that also offer bottled water and other non-al drinks. We encourage re-filling water bottles and re-usable cups, etc to reduce waste; and we have waste recycling bins etc throughout our grounds. We also have a small (but beautiful) bar and cafe offering simple meals and home-made treats, barista coffee and alcohol. Overlooking Lake Gkula, it has picnic tables, lawns and a sandy beach; its a lovely place to relax with family and friends of all ages. Woodfordia will provide fire pits in the common areas at night, but please bear in mind that if you're cooking at your camp site - no open fires. Our General Store has a small but tasty grocery section with milk, water, fresh fruit & vegies, ice-cream, biccies, etc as well as useful items (inspect spray, thongs, ground mats, umbrellas) and an artisan gift section. We take cash or card, but please note the bar, cafe and General Store items are not free. VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES The Planting activities will be listed in the event programme, which you will be able to pick up from reception, or see on our website closer to the event date. if in doubt, call Reception on (07) 5496 1066. Planting activities are undertaken by small '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. Planting activities usually include mulching and watering, and may include light digging. In any areas where digging holes for plants may be challenging (heavy or compacted soil, slope, etc), preparatory work will be undertaken by Woodfordia's site crew. Volunteers are encouraged to join the pod that most interests them. They can also move between pods to gain new experience, skills and knowledge, and to meet and work alongside different people. 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. REGISTERING Interested volunteers should register online for The Planting - tickets will be on our website, or call our reception (07) 5496 1066. ARRIVAL On arrival, drop into Reception in our admin building (a low-set, deep blue building at our front gate; on the left about 1km from the turn off into Woodrow Rd from the Beerwah Hwy. At Reception, visitors will receive a program of activities, a pass code that opens the boom gate, and directions to the camping and 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. HEALTH & SAFETY We provide basic first aid on-site and we have a small medical centre supported by Q-Health ambulances/medicos. However, we 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 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. WATER & STAYING HYDRATED While we provide fresh water, volunteers may also wish to bring their own water bottles to re-fill as needed. Even in May the days can be quite hot. INTERESTED IN BEING A VOLUNTEER AFTER THE PLANTING Woodfordia'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 and attend the wonderful Folk Club evenings which feature amazing musicians, a bar, a BBQ and fire pits - a great night out. Our volunteer programmes (Conservatree, Tree Huggers & Weekend Warriors) are very well organised with a specific focus for each weekend, e.g., establishing orchids, tackling woody weeds, working in the nursery, build nesting boxes or 'bee hotels', and/or gather & record data on flora & fauna, - to name just a few options. KNOWLEDGE AND SCIENCE Planting activities at Woodfordia 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?

,Tools and equipment for planting,Watering cans / buckets,Drinking water,Snacks,Refreshments,BBQ