General News
23 August, 2022
Master Growers graduate from program
THERE is a new group of master tree growers in the Heytesbury region after 28 participants completed a recent training course.
THERE is a new group of master tree growers in the Heytesbury region after 28 participants completed a recent training course.
In the first Master TreeGrower Course held in the region since 2008, landholders got to learn about how best to integrate trees into farming systems for conservation, agriculture and profit.
The course was delivered by Otway Agroforestry Network and hosted by Heytesbury District Landcare Network (HDLN).
HDLN project officer and local course co-ordinator Kate Leslie said all the graduates learnt more about agroforestry and improving their decision making about vegetation on their properties.
“There was a strong focus on multi-purpose planting and building capacity of landholders,” she said.
The program covered shade and shelterbelts, principles and management of multi-purpose forests, how trees can deal with contamination, intercept ground water and nutrients, integrating trees into the farming landscape, carbon accounting, and growing trees for conservation and profit.
Most of the participants were local landholders.
Ms Leslie said Master TreeGrower was suitable for anyone from those wanting to develop a cut flower market to others who want to promote biodiversity on their farms.
“The feedback from participants was very positive,” she said.
The Eureka Award-winning Master TreeGrower program developed by Rowan Reid was supported by Otway Agroforestry Network and Corangamite CMA with funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
Another course will be held in the central Otways region in 2023.