Conservation Work

Protecting and enhancing biodiversity across our farm landscape is very important to us. We have a species list that serves as a record of all wildlife species that have been sighted on our property in recent years and we continue to update it as required. Each year we undertake a conservation based project whether it is is fencing off a waterway, revegetating an area, fencing off natural regeneration areas when required or undertaking soil health related works. We are active members of the Upper Hopkins Land Management Group.

Shepherd’s Hut Sanctuary

In early 2016, a 4km long predator proof fence was built at ‘Tullyvallin’ creating a 56 hectare predator proof sanctuary. This fence was partially funded by the Grampians Pyrenees Biolink funding which was administered by the Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority.

Our frustration at the loss of native fauna species from ‘Tullyvallin’ and determination to see these species return is the reason for the fence being built. The reduction in diversity and abundance of native flora along with predation of feral animals is (like other areas) the most significant cause of native fauna decline in the area. Most of this landscape scale habitat loss is beyond our control and occurred long before we became managers of ‘Tullyvallin’.

The ‘Tullyvallin’ sanctuary project has set the following goals:

Goal 1:

Maintaining a fox and cat free environment.

Goal 2:

Documenting an increase in native flora species including natural regeneration.

Goal 3:

Documenting an increase in abundance and diversity of native reptiles, mammals, birds and invertebrates within the Sanctuary.

Goal 4:

Using the Sanctuary to contribute to ecological research and education.

Shepherd’s Hut Sanctuary Educational Fact Sheets

River Bend Ecology strives to connect community with natural ecosystems. Dr. Ayesha Burdett and W. Howard Brandenburg conduct scientific research and monitoring in Southwestern Victoria, focusing on freshwater systems. They also design and create innovative science education products that incorporate data visualisation and scientific illustration.

One of our goals for the Sanctuary is to contribute to ecological research and education. We endeavour to achieve this by welcoming interested community members to visit the Sanctuary as a way of exchanging knowledge and showcasing how conservation and production outcomes can be achieved collectively on a working farm.

It is not possible for everyone to visit us so we recently engaged River Bend Ecology to design and create educational fact sheets that reflect how and why we created the Shepherd’s Hut Sanctuary and some of the species that are benefiting from these efforts as a result.

We are thrilled to be able to offer access to 8 different fact sheets cleverly designed and illustrated by Howard at River Bend Ecology. They are not only really informative for all ages and stages but are full of beautiful illustrations. Click on the links below to access them, we hope you enjoy viewing them and learn something interesting!

Shepherd's Hut Sanctuary giving back to country

Predator proof fence

Eucalyptus melliodora (Yellow box)

Delma impar (Striped legless lizard)

Isoodon obesulus obesulus (Southern brown bandicoot)

Falco berigora (Brown falcon)

Rattus lutreolus (Eastern swamp rat)

Litoria raniformis (Growling grass frog)