Based on an article by Neville Hunter written for The Victorian Landcare Magazine (June/July,2023)
THE Ern Miles Reserve in Kyabram is a testament to the power of community help in achieving a shared goal of environmental conservation.
The reserve was once a degraded site overrun by weeds, but with the help of dedicated volunteers from the Kyabram Urban Landcare Group (KULG) and other members of the community, it has been transformed into a thriving native bushland that supports local wildlife and provides a recreational area for the community.
Local school children, including students from Haslem Street Primary School, played a significant role in the project by planting over 200 tubestock with indigenous species of eucalypts, acacias, sennas, and dodoneas to begin the growth of understorey.
KULG members, community volunteers, and other groups such as Dhurringile Prison, Goulburn Murray Landcare Network, Kyabram Girl Guides and Boy Scouts, Rural Finance employees, and an unemployed Kyabram youth team have all contributed to the project over the past 20 years.
Despite facing challenges such as flood, drought, frost, and weeds, the dedication and hard work of the volunteers have paid off.
The beauty of the flowering wattles in late winter and early spring, the presence of twelve endemic species, including Australia’s floral emblem, the golden wattle, and the return of at least 40 bird species and native wildlife are a testament to the success of the project.
The sense of community created by the project is also of great value. The involvement of different groups has fostered a sense of ownership and pride in the project, as evident in the many locals who now visit the reserve.
The Ern Miles Reserve project serves as an inspiring example of how the community can make a positive impact on the environment and conservation efforts.
