Protecting the Next Generation of Paddock Trees

Up2Us Landcare Alliance is excited to share that all 100 stock-proof tree guards and indigenous eucalypt seedlings offered through our recent initiative have now been distributed to landholders across the Mansfield Shire. The collection day on Tuesday was a huge success, and we would like to thank everyone who participated and showed their commitment to protecting and restoring our local landscapes.

These tree guards – designed to withstand livestock pressure – will protect young paddock trees as they establish, giving them the critical early support they need to thrive. Each tree planted is a long-term investment in our natural environment and agricultural systems.

Paddock trees are more than just beautiful additions to our rural views – they are ecological powerhouses. Mature paddock trees provide:

• Shelter for livestock, helping to reduce heat stress and improve animal welfare

• Important habitat for birds, bats, insects, and other wildlife

• Improved soil structure and nutrient cycling through deep-root systems and organic matter

• Pollination and pest control services, especially when integrated into working farms

• Landscape connectivity, acting as stepping stones for wildlife moving through open country

Sadly, many of our mature paddock trees are aging and disappearing due to natural attrition, development pressures, and lack of regeneration. By supporting landholders to plant and protect the next generation of trees, we’re helping to secure the future of our region’s biodiversity and agricultural resilience.

If you received a tree guard and seedling through this program, we’d love to see how your planting is going. Please send us a photo once your tree is planted and the guard is installed – it’s always inspiring to see these small actions come to life across the region.