This is what our property looks like now, or at least in 2005 when Google took the photo. In total there are about four large trees, plus lots or blackberry and thistles. This weekend we started to redress the balance. Sue and myself planted 100 trees and bushes. They are all tube stock and although 100 was a very ambitious number, they do get quite cheap when you buy that many. Of course, by the end of the weekend every muscle in our bodies was hurting.

Many of the trees were fast growing Acacias. These are pioneer plants and in a natural forest environment they prepare the soil for the plants to come. We hope they will do the same here. We want to start a tradition where every visitor to the property has to bring a tree. That way, not only do we get lots of trees, but each time that person visits they can see how their tree is progressing. The trees should provide shelter from the winds and attract bird life which in turn will bring small amounts of natural fertiliser and help spread seeds. This is the start of a very long term project.
For the record, the plants were:

• Acacia buxifolia (10)
• Acacia decurrens (10)
• Acacia mearnsii (10)
• Acacia myrtifolia (10)
• Eucalyptus crebra (5)
• Eucalyptus fibrosa (5)
• Eucalyptus gummifera (10)
• Hakea salicifolia (10)
• Leptospermum scoparium roseum (10)
• Angophora floribunda (10)
• Kunzea ambigua (10)